The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1915-05-25

Washington. d. c., May 25.-The
case of Anton Kuepferle, the alleged
German spy, who committed suicide
in London, and who is now shown to
have been naturaliZed American
citizen, has brought up once more the
much-mooted question of whether
Germans are taking out naturaliza-
tion papers in this country, and at the
same time retaining allegiance to
their own government.
In official circles, the case of Kuep-
ferle is attracting much notice. Not
only that, but there is reason to be-
lieve that it is attracting much atten-
tion among foreign governments.
May Be Aired in Congress.
In the case of at least one other
the State Department has been invit-
ed to give its attention4to the alleged
German practice of taking the oath OF
allegiance to the United States, and
at the same time retaining German al
legiance.
Congress became considerably in
terested in this matter last winter.
In view of the Kuepferle case, 1t is
not unlikely the subject will be once
more aired in Congress next winter
1t is known that prominent men in
Congress have given the question at
tention. A demand for a Congression-
al investigation is a possibility.
The allegation that German might
take the oath of allegiance to this
nation and at the same time retain
allegiance to his native land have
taken on a new seriousness because
of the strained relations between the
two nations and the fear that unless
the Lusitania tangle is satisfactorily
settled the United States may be
dragged into war.
Early in the present war, the State
Department was asked by the French
embassy to consider the alleged dou-
BILE citizenship plan of Germany.
The State Department was unwil-
ling to do it, lest it might be regard
ed as taking an unneutral position to-
ward Germany.
Investigating Situation.
However, it is known that officials
of the State Department and of the
bureau of naturalization of the De-
partment of Labor have undertaken
some investigation of the situation.
They profess to believe that if there
are Germans who are retaining al.
legiance to their government while
protesting allegiance to America, the
number is limited.
Recent passport frauds against this
government and attempted frauds are
interesting in this connection. How
ever, the passport frauds as a rule
have been attempted by persons who
were not naturalized, but who were
attempting fraudulently to palm
themselves off as naturalized Amer
leans.
Kuepferle, who killed himself in
London, left note saying he was a
soldier of rank he did not wish to
state, and that he was not dying as a
spy, but that what he had done he
had done for his country.
What l have done was for my
country" ran his last note.
1t is apparent that Kuepferle,
though sworn as an American citizen,
was yet loyal to Germany.
What German Law Holds.
In section 25, of the German law of
nationality, which was the subject of
a recent article by Maurice Leon,
there is a provision that citizenship
is. not lost by one who, before ac-
quiring foreign citizenship, has secur-
ed on application the written consent
of competent authorities of his home
state to retain his citizenship
No question exists about the Ian
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