The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1915-05-22
WHAT is
AMERICAN?
ASKS I. K.



fore his death took out naturaliza
ton papers.
al was born in New Orleans
Juno IS, 1880. have never been
out OF the United States and have
regularly voted as an American Cit
zen since reached the age OF p
years, and II war had ever occurred
between France and the United
States, / most certainly would have
fought for the United States.
have held the Office OF township
commissioner in Henderson county
North Carolina: have held several
court appointments. Doth federal
and state, and am a member OF the
state and federal bar. and have con.
sidered myself as much an Amer!-
can citizen as President Wilson or
any OF the members OF the cabinet
81 wish to VISIT France on bust
ness In the near future. and am ia
formed by Mr. Ferrand. the French
consul here that n go TO France
I could be either impressed into the
French service or punished for not
having reported for military duty.
and also for having served in The
state militia Of Louisiana without
permission from the French govern
ment.
Il contend that II the French gov
eminent had any right TO claim me
as a citizen under their laws, in
times OF peace they should have
called on me 10 serve my three
years in their military service.
Wishing to know whether my
constitutional privileges as an
American citizen follow me wher-
ever I go. with its constitutional
guarantees. or whether the United
States government win allow the
French government TO act in the
manner as stated by Mr.. Ferrand.
the French consul. | respectfully re-
quest an answer at as early date
o. possible.
Respectfully yours.
"'(Signed)
"P. A. DELONG. JR
TO this the following answer was
returned
Department Of State.
Washington. April .. 1915.
"'Mr. p. A. Delong. Junior, No. So
Union-st., New orleans, Louisi-
ana:
"'Sir:
1.-The department has received
your letter of March 81 1915. stat.
ING that you expect 10 40 20 France
on business in the near future and
inquiring whether you would be
molested by the French military au-
thorities. You say that you we're
born In New Orleans, June IS. 1880,
and that your father, a native OF
France, resided IN this country
about 30 years and obtained natural
ixation as citizen OF the United
States shortly before bis death.
which occurred about two years ago.
"Under the provision OF the
fourteenth amendment TO the con
stitution. all persons born in the
United States and subject 10 the
jurisdiction thereof are citizens %
the United States. Section one.
article VII OF the French civil code,
states that the following are
Trenchmen Every person born
q Q Frenchman in France or
abroad"
cit thus appears that you were
Nogu with a dual nationality. and
the department cannot therefore
i've you any assurance that you
vouid not be held liable for the per.
epVmance OF military service in
psAnce should you voluntarily place
yOurseif within French Jurisdiction
az am sir. your obedient servant
For the Secretary OF State.
"'(Signed)
ROBERT LANSING.
"'Couns elor'
Let me poin, out few OF the
possible applications Of the doc.
trines thus laid down by the de
partment OF state II Col Cocktails
went to Holland he would be he bic
10 be shipped out for military ser.
vice In Sumatra II Admirals Oster.
haus and Schroeder had gone to
Germany they could have been
forced to serve under Admiral Won
Tirpitz In the German navy n
Gen. Berry should visit England he
could be seized and sent 10 the
trenches In France. IL my neigh.
born Messrs. Peter Dunno and Mark
Sullivan. and my friends Judge
O'Brien and James Connolly and
Charles Connolly. went 10 England
they could be impressed into the
British army for service in Flanders
Or ireland. n the sons OF Jacob
Riis went to Denmark they could be
retained In the Danish forces. II
the con OF the great war corrcspon
Cent. McOann, whose mother was n
Russian lady, went TO Russia. he
could be sent 10 serve In the Car.
poshians. President Andrew Jack.
q On this theory could have been
1mprsssed for military service In
- tngiisA amy against which he
80 N " 3. y