Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1915-07-04


that country require the renunca
uun ol tine prior allegiance AS th
laws of the United States require IS
lcry applicant specifically 90 renounc
land abiurc his former alleemuce. thI
section could not apply to applicant
for admission "a American citizenshl
/ providing they We're acting in goo
faith.
The German Explanation.
The German explanation has beeI
that the provision is intended only 10
the benefit OF Germans residing Il
foreign lands which extend the fran
Chise. the right 10 hold real property
etc, only 80 their citizens. A well la
/ formed German here declares tina
I the new provisions We're nccessitate,
! hy the experience Of Germans Il
Russia, one Of whom, for example
! hecome heir to certain properties il
/ that country to which he found b,
! could hold NO legal title unless Ia
were a Russian citizen
/ The new German law Is noteworthy
however. boz making it possible lo
! ndult persons 10 assume "a dual nat
! tionulity Of their own volition Mr.
! Flournoy points out that perhaps ia,
1 term alternate nationality might b,
more appropriate Nevertheless. IN,
I law has been studied with puzzled n.
terest m This country, the more 81
/ because section of the new aci rec
/ verses an older policy ana provides
/ that perosns who already have lost
their German nationality through
residence abroad for ten years may
without returning 10 Germany, rec
sumo their original nationality.
Thus il would be legally possible. az
far as German law is concerned. for
the German-American citizens Of the
United states TO resume their German
citizenship should they care 10 DO so
-as some might In the event of war.
a German writer explains This pro-
vision, however by saying that it re-
ters especially 10 representatives Of
commerce. 10 members of the Ger
man community in Palestine. 10 mis-
sionarieH, and in general 10 persons
by being especially active la the fus-
tcring Of German Interests abroad.
ana particularly hy maintaining Ger
man schools ana churches, perform
"a worthy service The law Is broad
enough IL Is explained TO permit the
reinstatement OF Germans and their
descendants who have acquired "a for
oign citizenship
The new law allows Germans to OBJ
tain certificates of expatrlation upon
application, except generally speak
ing, those who are liable for the pcr-
Torrance of military service Mr.
Flouuoy inters that these provisions
arc intended only TO enable "a person
leaving Germany to- obtain "a clean
bin of health, go 90 speak, ass 90 his
military liability
How the Laws stand.
The statements OF Secretary Of state
Lansing, which cannot be quoted in
fun here, ana the writings Of Colonel
Roosevelt and Senator Lodge make
reasonably clear the laws both do
nestle and foreign. governing citizen
ship ana the issue upon which his two
critics would have Secretary Lansing
take his stand. The legal position as
sumod by the state department is
clear enough. II the United states Is
willing 20 be governed by the laws Of
foreign nations, but il IS incompatible
with the duty of the secretary Of
state as the colonel and senator sec
it, II Us suggested that this situation
reveals q fertile hold for the activities
of an international court OF law when
the parliament of nations. the dream
of poet and statesman alike. is an es-
tahlished thing