New-York tribune., 1921-12-15
Speyer Silently
Becomes a Man
Of No Country
Banker Refuses to Comment
on Action of British Gov
eminent Depriving Him
OF Naturalization Paper
He Will Remain i'm u. S.
Communication With Fam
lily in Germany During
War Defended by Lawyer

Sir Edgar Speyer, former London
banker, who found himself "a man with
out = country" yesterday as the result
Of the action Of the British government
IN dspriving him Of bis certificate of
naturalization, refused last night TO
make 4 statement on the subject when
seen at his home. 20 Washington
Square
Asked as to his reason for maintain
ing silence. Sir Edgar said that, "inas-
much rs the proceedings Of the British
government in the case were held in
camera, it would not be proper to make
. statement at this time"
He was reminded that the British
government had authorized full pub
iicity as to its decision, concerning
which 1t was charged by the Home Sec
retary that Sir Edgar "has shown HIM
self by act and speech to be disaffected
and disloyal to his majesty, and had,
during the war in which his majesty
was engaged, un1awfully communicated
with the subjects Of an enemy state
and associated with business which
was to his knowledge carried on in
such . manner as to assist the enemy
IN such war;"
Speyer Refuses to Speak
~Do YOU not feel that. in view of this
announcement, you owe it to yourself
to make some statement on your own
beha1f he was asked
"Not at this time," was the reply.
"Later may have something to say"
DO you intend to maintain your
residence in the United States?"
"Yess''
Sir Edgar was shown statement
which was issued earlier in the day on
his behalf by Samuel Untermyer Say
ing that Mr.. Untermyer was his coun
sci, he wished it made clear that he did
not ask that the statement be made for
him, but that, as Mr.. Untermyer point
ed out, it was issued on the latter's in
itiative. This statement was in part,
rs follows:
eff it was disloyal for man to oom-
munisate with his sisters and their
families in Germany in time of great
distress: and for the banking houses
In which Sir Edgar was partner to
change transactions with Amsterdam
and other neutral cities, as many of
the most reputable banking houses in
London were doing, then Sir Edgar was
disloyal, even though these current
transactions were without his knowl-
edge, as was clearly shown.
Political Agitation Blamed
''Fot seven years this city has been
Sir Edgars home, and I am sure that
no one who knows him will pay any at
tention to this latest news. 1t is
simply the elimination Of long po-
litical agitation against Sir Edgar that
has been going on ever since the war
started, because of his German origin,
and that was the subject Of constant
discussion in Parliament. 1t led to the
British nationality and alien status
act, passed in 1918, to fit his case,
under which man could be de-
naturalized for what they called disaf-
fection.
II regard this as cruel political per-
secuti6n, but as Sir Edgar and his
family have for seven years had their
home with us, and as he has done moth
Ing that the most punctlious man of
honor cannot justify, he can afford to
view the whole thing with equanimity.'
WASHINGTON, Dec. IL (By The AS
sociated Press).-Under American
citizenship statutes, government of.
fcials said to-day, both Sir Edgar
Speyer and his wife, even though Born
in America of, American parents, would
be considered to have assumed Brit
ish citizenship when Sir Edgar re-
ceived his naturalization papers in
London
If the couple should decide to reside
IN the United States, it was added, they
probably would be compelled to comply
with the law requiring FIVE years con.
tinuous residence before they could
file application for citizenship. Actor
on the application would rest largely
with the Federal judge before whom il
was made.