Omaha daily bee., 1909-11-04
Ruling of Bureau Excluding Them
Arouses Ottoman Charge.
THAT NATION LARGELY TO BLAME
It Has Steadfastly Refused to Make
Naturalization Treaty.
sYRIANs ARE OF WHITE RACE
Experts of Smithsonian Institute
Contradict Ruling of Richard
X. Campbell that They
Are MOnEOlians.

WASHINGTON, Nov. S.--The question OF
granting naturalization to Turkish subjects
is for the determination Of competent
courts. This is the attitude Of the State
department as defined in a statement is
sued today and is taken to indicate that
the department is not prepared to accept
without question the conclusion of the bu-
reau Of naturalization of the Department
of Commerce and Labor that Turkish sub
jects are not entitled to naturalization.
The recent ruling of Chief Richard X
Campbell Of the bureau Of naturalization
that Syrlans and their racial kindred, who
are Turkish subjects, were yellow, not
white, and that they were barred, there
fore, from naturalization under existing
laws called forth a protest from the Otto
man charge daffalres a few days ago.
The State departments view is that Tur-
key is responsible in large measure for the
situation that has arisen. The departments
statement is as follows:
For a quarter of a century the govern
ment of the nited States has sought, and
today continues to seek, to negotiate with
the Ottoman government a naturalization
convention to provide for the recognition
by that government of the expatrlation Of
Turkish subjects duly naturalized as Amer
lean citizens. This we'll illustrates the fact
that there has been absolutely no change
in the policy or views of the Department
of State on the subject Of the naturaliza-
tion OF Turkish subjects.
Courts VIII Determine.
The basis of recent press reports upon
this question have recently come to the
notice Of the, Department of State. Insofar
! as such reports may have been discussed as
| affecting the question of naturalization, 1t
is hardly necessary to state that they are
without effect upon the above policy or
upon the question of granting naturaliza-
tion-a question which now, as In the past,
is for the determination of the competent
courts.
'As further Illustration of the policy
| above indicated, II may be added that the
government of the United States by the
issuance of passports and BY the good
Offices Of the foreign service has always
sought to give to American citizens of
Turkish origin precisely the sape protec-
tion afforded to all other citizens of the
United States In foreign countries"
| According to the view held by the race
experts of the Smithsonian institution, the
Syrians, a large portion OF the Armenians,
the Arabs, Semitics and dwellers OF north
ern Africa, such as the Egyptians, notwith-
standing the fact that the hot sun in that
climate has tanned their skins, are as much
a part of the white race as any blond white
man can be.
Views of Scientists.
Dr. Justin S. Klrreh of New York, who
has been upturning available stone in
W ashington recently in his effort to over
throw Mr.. Campbells ruling has appealed
to the Smithsonian experts with results
which he regards as highly satisfactory.
He came out tonight with the statement
that DR.. Hrdlcka of the institutes division
Of physical anthropology has entirely con
firmed his contention that the Syrians and
their racial kindred sought by Mr.. Camp
bell to be excluded, are indsputably Of the
white race. No official utterance on tho
subject has been made by the Smithsonian
institute, which shows no disposition Il
enter the controversy In any formal way IL
absence of an official request.
DR.. KirTeh said that Dr. Hrdlicka con
firmed him in the lew that so far were th'
Syrians from being of the yellow race tina
they never had any dealings or connection
whatsoever with the Mongols.
Prof. Walter Hoff, director OF the burea,
of anthropology," said DR.. Kirreh "alst
laughed at the idea OF conslgning tn
Syrians to the yellow race, as did DT
Holmes, director OF the bureau of American
} ethnology, who placed before me thre
standard works on the subject to proc tina
the Syrians are in eery sense OF the wor,
whites"