El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1916-03-13
JAPAN To BAR
HYPHEN TROUBLE
Dual Nationality Relating
to American Born Children
Dealt With in New Law.

Toxic, Japan, March 13.-In eIabora-
ton of the cabled announcement that
the government has introduced into
the diet a measure designed to solve
| the troublesome matter of double ma
tonality, as applied to the Japanese
children born fin the United States,
there are number of details of inter-
est to America.
The governments bill, as has been
announced, emphasizes the right OF ex-
patriation Of japanese born in foreign
{ Iahds and provides that such eXpatria-
Z uon involves definitely loss of Jap
& anese nationality
One of the contentious of those seek
ing more satisfactory assimilation
OF the Japanese residents in the United
J states has been that Japan hindered
that assimilation by maintaining Its
legal hold on male children born in for
elgn lands. Birth of japanese in the
united States is tantamOunt to the
TlSht OF American citizenship but the
Japanese law has never recognized the
rlght of Japanese born abroad TO sep
arate themselves entirely from Japan
csc nationality. Thus arose the ques-
tlon OF dual nationality between the
United States and Japan just as il has
arisen between the United States and
european countries where the old RO-
man law still obtains The dual ma
uonauty' was alleged to react aginst
a broader adaptation Of Japanese resi-
dents in the United States to American
conditions and American life.
Loses japanese Nationality.
The new measure provides that when
Japanese woman by becoming the
wife of a foreigner has acquired her
husbands nationality she loses her
japanese nationality.
The bill provides that in case n
.l1n9nnCp
fo1 eign nationality by reason Of birth
in foreign country, has dOmicile in
that country, he may eXpatriate him.
self with the permission of the min
lister of state for home affairs. The
application for the permission shall be
made by the legal representative in
case the person eNpatriating himSel1 is
younger than IS years Of age. If
the person in question is a minor
above Is years of age adjudged incom-
petent the application can only be made
with the consent Of legal representa-
tive or guardian. A step-father, step
mother or Il legal mother or guardian
may not make the application or give
consent without the consent of the
family counsel
A supplementary provision declares
that the date Of the operation Of this
law shall be determined by imperial or
dinance.
Lesson 10 America.
Discussing the 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 Communications since
the outbreak of the war in Europe. In
the latter instance the fault may be
said to be partly due to the neglect
or Indifference with which the United
States has for years, allowed the
agents Of the German government to
cultivate among the German Americans
their allegiance and devotion to the
fatherland. None the less the United
States has seen enough Of the evils
and dangers Of dual nationality. Amer
lea may, therefore be expected to be
only the more sensitive and exacting
I'm the future with regard to the ques-
ton Of the nationality Of her citizens
OF foreign origin"
The newspaper hopes that the house
of peers will speedily pass the bill and
send il to the house where il believes /
there is every prospect Of its being /
quickly ratified.