The New York herald., 1921-12-15

now in the United States. was German
born. Samuel Untsrmy er. who several
times has acted as his counsel. yesterday
that both Sir Edgar and his wife were
born In America of American parents.
According to Merton Sturges, chief
naturalization examiner in New York.
Sir Edsar would pvokahiy have to take
cut American naturalization papers IL
he wished again TO become a citizen OF
this country. At the present moment,
he said, indications were that Sir Edgar
owed allegiance to no country.
Reasons given for revoking Sir Edgar's
the war unlawfully communicated with
/ the subjects of an enemy State and as
sociated with a business that was to his
knowledge carried on in such a manner
rs to assist tie enemy i'll the war
While explaining he had not repre-
sented Sir Edgar in the British pro-
C edings, Mr. Cnternlyer said he was
familiar with them from having acted
as his counsel here in connection with
transactions charged TO have taken place
III fAHlCllCU III anu SiIlCG 1910 WfleH oll
Edgar came here with his family to live
and he has lived here ever since
Those charges were fiinsy and frivol-
Gus, and were so overwhelmingly dis
proved and exploded that they had to be
practically abandoned" continued Mr.
Untermyer
ITO us Americans, who know little of
the ramifcations of British politics. the
report Is so grossly misleading and un-
Just that feel that I should take upon
myself the responsibility of setting the
matter right.
IF it was disloyal for man to COM
municate with his sisters and their
families in Germany in times of great
distress. and for the banking houses in
which Sir Edgar was 4 partner, to en-
gage in current arbitrage and exchange
transactions with Amsterdam and other
neutral cities as many OF the most re-
spectacle banking houses in London were
doing then Sir Edgar was disloyal, even
though these current transactions were
without his knowledge, as was clearly
shown.
For seven years this city has been Sir
Edgars home, and am sure that no one
who knows him will pay any attention
to this latest move.
1T is simply the elimination of long
political 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 dis
cussiou in Parliament. 1t led to the
British nationality and alien status act,
passed in 1918 TO At his case under which
a man could be denaturalized for what
they call disaffection.
"Sir Edgar and his wife were born in
America and of American parents His
fathers business took him to Germany,
He has for years ceased TO use the title,
after having tried twice, but each time
unavalingly, to surrender his honors.
It was on one of these occasions that
Mr. Asquith. then Prime Minister. char
acterized the attacks as 'baseless and
malignant
81 regard this as cruel political perse-
cution. but as Sir Edgar and his family
have for seven years had their home
with us, and as he has done nothing
that the most punctilous man of honor
cannot justify. he can afford to view the
whole thing with equanimity"
WASHINGTON. Dec. IL (Associated
Press). - Under American citizenship
statutes, Government officials said to-
day. both Sir Edgar Speyer and his
wife, even though born in America of
American parents, would be considered
to have assumed British citizenship when
Sir Edgar received his naturalization
papers in London.
Ii 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. Action on
the application would rest largeiy with
the Federal Judge before whom 1t was
made.