The Washington times., 1915-09-07
DUAL CITIZENSHIP

OOHS ~
The cheerful assumption is in.
dulged by Ambassador Dumba that
in his capacity as envoy Of Austria.
Hungary in this country he is a sort
Of little father to all people, natives
Of that monarchy, who may be resi-.
dent in the United States. In his
explanation of his performances
here the ambassador says that
the proposals regarding embarrass-
sn Rs steel vspy wpyk' op.n ws5e .ns nSps
proper method to be taken to bring
in the big steel works, the fact that
they were engaged IN enterprises
fatherland. and that the imperial
government would hold the workers
In munitions plants where contracts
are being filled for the allies guilty
Of a serious crime against their
country.
This is not quite explicit; but the
phrase used is "those Of our races.
1t includes all persons native tc
Austria Hungary, whether natural.
lied or not. Now, whatever rights
Austria Hungary has to the loyalty
of its citizens who have not re.
nounced that citizenship and become
citizens here, it has no claim or
those who have become American
citizens, for Austria Hungary is one
of the countries-eleven in all, we
believe-that have entered into
treaties with the United States un'
der which each nation agrees tt
surrender its claim upon those Of
its people who formally transfe,
their allegiance to the other.
In any case it hardly need bs
urged that even a foreign govern
ment which did not concede thu
right of its citizens to transfe,
their allegiance to the United
States would hardly be expected t.
set up an extra-territorial govern
ment of its own here to manag,
them and to embroil this countr.
in internal troubles, through it!
pretended authority over them
while itself being at peace with thi'
nation.
The pretensions of Ambassador
Dumba in this connection recall ont
of the famous incidents in American
diplomatic history, an inciden
which profoundly affected the deter
mination of this very question o.
whether Austria had rights over hel
former citizens who had become
residents in the United States. II
the Kossuth rebellion of 1848 ont
Martic Koszta, an Hungarian, wa
follower of Kossuth. Later h
came to the United States and de
clared his intention to become a citi
zen. In 1852, before he had per
fected his citizenship, he went t.
Asia Minor on business, and il
Smyrna was seized at the instiga
ton of the Austrian consul ant
taken aboard an Austrian warship
the Huszar.
The American consul protested
and while the discussion was afoo
the American warship st. Louis
Captain Ingrahsm, came into tn
port. He backed up the consul's de
mand for koszta and was refused
Exchanges between the naval com
manders were still in progress whe
several more Austrian warships en-
tered the harbor. Ingraham, wit
a single vessel, declined to b
daunted, and in the end of the affai
he sent word to the Austrian com
mander that he was coming aboar
to take Koszta by force if neces
sary. Having dispatched this nots
Ingraham maneuvered his ship in
to advantageous position for bus
ness and got ready for shooting,
shooting should be required. He ha
named an hour for Koszta's return
and before the time had expired
sloop put off from the Austria
flagship bringing word that Koszt
would be sent ashore in custody {
the French consul.
That was acceptable to Ingrahan
There ensued a long diplomatic e,
change, the Austrian envoy j
Washington, under instructions ,
his government, demanding the n
turn of Koszta. William L. Marc
was Secretary of State, and in n
fusing this demand he made use {
some language that for vigoror
maintenance of American right
might properly be brought at til
present juncture to the attention {
gentlemen who are writing exec
lent rhetoric apropos Of that san
; subject. Said Mr.. Secretary Marc!
Whenever by the law Of nations