The Hawaiian gazette., 1916-03-24
Peace Preservation,

t41E EcCSnut endCteu sDual NatlOnaIlty Law,
which is to become effective on June through
PRONUNCIATION in Tekio, was passed according to
advices from Japan, as the contribution of the
Japanese government towards the cause of con-
tinued peace on the Pacific and to remove some
Of the outstanding difficulties between the Japa-
nese in Hawaii and California and the possibility
Of their assimilation with their American neigh
bors. The law, according to the details at
hand, goes farther than, the scanty reports con-
corning it which have reached here by cable led
the residents of Hawaii to believe, inasmuch as
it permits the Japanese parents Of children born
abroad to "expatriate' those children so far as
their Japanese obligations go. Heretofore it has
been taken for granted that the child, himself,
must make the election when reaching the age of
fifteen. 5@i
The bill provides that in case Japanese SUBJ
iect who has acquired foreign nationality by reason
OF birth in foreign country, has domcile in that
country, he may expatriate himself with the per-
mission OF the minister of state for home affairs
The application for the permission shall be made
by the legal representative in ease the person ex-
patriating himself is younger than fifteen years
OF age If the person in question is a minor above
fifteen years of age adjudged incompetent the APP
plicaton can only be made with the consent of a
legal representative or guardian. A stepfather,t
a stepmother or legal mother or guardian may
the consent of the family council. h, sss 4N
Prior to the final enactment of the Bill in the
lower house,the Japanese press heartily supported
the legislation, pointing out especially that the
adoption Of the law would have asfavorable effect
on the position OF, Japanese in America The OBJ
lection raised BY those Americans exerting them
selves in the interest Of Japanese in the United
States that their efforts were made difficult Der
cause Japan retained its nationality over Japanese
here was held by writers to have been reasonable
and natural z - {. p, ., D. $751;. . ~. ~
Discussing abe bill, the Japan Times said {:
America is finding to her cost what dangerous
thing is doublelor dual nationality as is seen in
the conduct of some German Americans since the
outbreak of the war in Europe. In the latter in
stance. 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 ID cultivate among the Ger
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. America may, therefore. be- expected
10 be only the more sensitive and exacting in the
future with regard to the question of the national
ity Of her citizens of foreign origin"
"Cettainly," wrote the editor, mo one desires
Tor the country the loss of its people. But it is
great dishonor' to the empire to be placed in a
position to force any of its people to act falsely
toward foreign country and unfairly to take
advantage of the ambiguity of law Nor will
there be much real use in compelling any one to-
retain Japanese nationality when that person sin
cerely wishes to become citizen Of another coun-
try For this reason we hope the pending measure
will be adopted"