Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-07-26
DOES GERMANY
CONTROL AMERICA?
The Recent Assertion of Jurisdic-
tion Over Germans in Munitions
Factories Here Raises Vital
Issue.
Rr sT. GEoRGE RoLToN

pressed in the saying. "Once an Englishman
always an Englishman."
They denied that British subject could
transfer his allegiance, and they impressed
into their service American seamen who had
been naturallzed and had forsworn alle-
glance to the King.
The United States could not admit the
validity of any such act or grant the sound
ness of the principle underlying the famous
British boast that a man who was born
British must die British and was at all times
subject to the law of the British Empire
A nation whose citizenry was to be re-
cruted from people of all the nations Of the
earth must insist on the right of the immi-
| grants to choose for themselves whom they
would serve.
The diplomatic archives in Washington are
bulging with letters in which the right OF
immigrants to American citizenship is dis
cussed. AS long ago as September 20, 1sOO'
| John Marshall then Secretary of State, In
| urging the payment of an award by Spain TO
| naturalized Americans who had been British
| subjects, a payment resisted by Spain on the
! ground that the claimants were not Amer
leans at the time Great Britain acknowl-
| edged the independence of the colonies, de-
| clared that when the laws adopt an indi-
vidual no nation has the right to question
the validity of tho act, unless 1t be one who
has conflicting title to the person adopted.
And in 1872 James Monroe, who was then
Secretary OF State wrote to the British Min
lister in the course of letter demanding the
release of impressed seamen that at Is Inn
possible for the United States to discriminate
between their native and naturalized citi-
.zens; nor ought your Government to expect
It, as It makes no such discrimination Itself"
1t was not until 1870, however, that the
British Parliament formally renounced the
old doctrine, "once Englishman, always
an Englishman," and passed law recognize
ing the transfer Of allegiance from England
to another Power.
The Purpose of an-Germanism
Modern Germany, with its Pan -Germanlc
theory, has strven to retain the loyalty, If
not the formal allegiance, of Germans
wherever they may have migrated The
Kaiser has devoted himself to keeping alive
their interest in the Fatherland. 1t was in
pursuit of this policy that he sent his brother,
Prince Henry, to the United States few
years ago, and has kept in close touch with
the German colonies In South America and
has sought to persuade the South African
Beers that Germany was their best friend,
although the Beers are Dutch and not Ger
man.
The publication in Berlin last week of an
official declaration that Germans working in
munition factories, particularly in the United
States, are liable to prosecution for high
treason is an attempt to exercise criminal
Jurisdiction over Germans wherever they may
be and to punish them for acts done outside
of the territory where the German laws run.
1t is a formal announcement that Germans
who wish ever to return to the homo of their
ancestors must earn their living in some
tR-t,
be used against Germany II they wish to
escape Imprisonment.
Although the United States has a treaty
with Germany-it was negotiated with the
North German Union in 1S6S-recognizing the
right of Germans to transfer their allegiance
to the United StatesI 1t would be easy for
Germany to punish those who disregard the
recent notice as 1t has been for 1t to punish
those who have been naturalzed here with
out having first served their term in the Ger
man army.
Treaties Full of Loopholes
The European nations, with practically no
exception, have insisted on military service
from all their citizens, wherever universal
service is required. And this, too, in spite
of agreements with the United States in
tended TO protect the naturalzed alien in his
rights OF citizenship here
The treaties are SO drawn as to leave many
Ioopholes. man must first receive the con-
sent Of his home Government before he can
become an American citizen with the same
rights as a native-born American. II he be
naturalized here without receiving that con-
sent and then return to Italy or Austria or
France or Germany. he is liable to arrest on
the charge of trying to escape his military
duty; and II he is within the active military
age he must serve his term before he ia re-
leased. But 1t is not easy to get that con-
sent
NJ. Vignaud Charge dAnaires In Paris,
wrote to John Sherman. Secretary OF State
in 1897, that before or after his naturalza-
tion abroad Frenchman may ask his Gov
ernment for it's consent to renounce French
national character; but II he Is OF the age
during which active military service is due.
this consent Is never given or given only
under very exceptional circumstances. I do
not know OF any successful applications OF
this character"
But NJ. Vignaud said, the consent would
be given If the man had passed the military
age; yet the American Embassy has con-
slstently refused to make any applications
for such permission in behalf of naturaIized
Americans, 4as such a step might imply an |
improper admission on our part" meaning |
that It would involve the admission of the
American Government that its naturalization !
papers are not valid without the approval |
OF the Government TO which the man had |
foTsworn allegiance
II Germany should try any German-Amer-
lean for high treason because he had worked
in the Bethlehem steel plant for example,
there would doubtless be new diplomatic
which would make that over
the Lusitania seem tame.