Bisbee daily review., 1916-04-09
JAPANESE DIET IS
 SEEKING ID SOLVE
 VEXATIOUS PROBLEM
Troublesome Matter of Dou- ble Nationality Discussed by Statesmen of Orisntal Empire.

caDleQ announcement that tne govern ment has introduced into the Diet a measure designed to solve the trou- blesome matter of double nationality, as applied to the Japanese children born in the United States, there are a number of details of interest to Am erica.
 The governments bill, as has been announced, emphasizes the right of repatriation of Japanese born in for eign lands and provides that such ex- patriation involves definitely loss of Japanese nationality.
 One of the contentious of those ton of the Japanese residents in the United States has been that Japan hindered that assimilation by main- taining it's legal hold on male children born in foreign lands. Birth of Japan ese in the United States is tantamount to the right of American citizenship but the Japanese law never recognized | the right of Japanese born abroad to separate themselves entirely from Jap anese nationality. Thus arose the question of dual nationality" between ! the United States and Japan just as it has arisen between the United States and European countries where the old Roman law still obtains The dual nationality" was alleged to react a. gainst broader adoption of Japanese residents in the United States to Am erican conditions and American life. | Representative Japanese predict the pending bill will be adopted by the Diet though it may meet with opposi- ton in the conservative house of Peers. They explain that although the exicting Japanese law provides for ex- patriation. one clause of the law rem ders repatriation practically inopera- l tive because it obliges male Japanese resident abroad to serve their time in he Japanese army. Thus Japan in no way released it's legal hold on male Japanese living in foreign lands. This clause especially affected California and Hawaii on account of the large number of Japanese residents in those places. The amendment offered in the Diet is believed to be way out of the difficulty and is regarded as a cOmprO- mise measure framed in such way as not to excite direct opposition from l Japanese army circles. The amend ment gives the parents. of Japanese children born in the United States the right to eXpatriate their children and | if this amendment is accepted it means that the clause relating to com pulsory military service will not be Op- erative. It indicates that the Japan csc government endorses the right of i American-born Japanese to become citizens of the American Republic without any legal obligations to their home land. The step is regarded here as contribution of Japan to the set tlement of questions involving citizen ship and race between the two coun- tries.
 The Few measure provides that when a Japanese woman, by becom- fling the wife of foreigner, has ac- quired her husbands nationality, shG loses her Japanese nationality.
 The bill provides that in case a Jap anese subject, who has acquired for eign nationality by reason of birth in foreign country. has domicile in that country, he may expatriate himself with the permission of the Minister of State for home affairs.
 The fact that committee of the House of Representative has ratified a bill which is of the same purport as that offered the government. has ere ated the impression that the House will adopt the governments bill.
 The Japanese press is pointing out the international importance of the measure and expresses the opinion that it's adoption will have favorable effect on the position of Japanese in America.
 Discussin sthe bill, the Japan Times said: America is finding to her cost what a dangerous thing is double or dual nationality, as is seen in the con duct of some German-Americans since ithe outbreak of the war in Europe. In .the latter instance, the fault may be said 10 be partly due to the neglect or indifference with which the United States has. for years, allowed the a. gents of the German government 10 lcultivate among the German-Ameri- cans their allegiance and devotion Id lthe Fatherland. None the less the United States has seen enough of the evils and dangers of dual nationality. America may. therefore, be expected 10 be only the more sensitive and eX- acting in the future with regard to the question of the nationality or her citi- zens of foreign origin
 Tine newspaper hopes that the
 House of Peers will speedily pass the bill and send il to the House where it believes there is every prospect of it's ifeing quickly ratified. "Certainly, writes the editor. mo one desires for the country the loss of is people. But
 it is a great dishonOr 10 the empire to