Evening star., 1922-10-15

the old world, I am unable to say. I
hope IT is greater than my obser-
vations led me to believe.
The British government has
placed upon the agenda Of the
league a question of vital moment
to the world. Its determination
and the way in which the leagues
judgment is received will have a
far-reaching effect upon what the
nations of the world are to think
of the powers of the league and Of
the lengths they should go in
oheying it's decisions. II the in
terested parties shall quietly sub
nit to the decision OF the league
and obey. in good faith. any 1udg-
ment that may be rendered. I
make bold to assert that the league
will move rapidly toward distinct
success.
The question grew out of a Sit
nation Ike this: Certain subjects
of the British empire were tenn
poWrily domiciled In French ter
rIt0fy. Sons were born to them.
and these sons reached the years
at which military service is de-
manded by French law. Local au-
thori.ies OF France called upon
the young Engliahmen to dis
charge this duty 10 the French
government They claimed ex-
emptfon on the ground they were
British subjects. Their claim was
rejected and some OF them were
arrested and imprisoned for fall
ure to obey the law.
The British government prompt
ly presented the question for de-
termination by the league Of
tion Of dual citizenship. not the
kind that arose in America over
naturalization when secret admis-
sions were made TO German con-
suls that the naturalized Ameri-
cans were still German citizens.
but the older controversy as to
whether man takes the citizen
ship of his father or the citizen
ship of the land in which he hap
predicament Of the Irishman who
was born on the high seas between
Ireland and America. He did not
know whether he was an Irish
man. an American or a marine.
The first clause OF the first Sec
tion of article u 20 the Constitu-
ton Of the United States reads as
follows:
"All persons born or naturalized
in the United States and subject to
the jurisdiction thereof. are citi-
zens Of the United States and Of
the state wherein they reside"
This clause. which has been
construed by the Supreme Court
TO mean that a Chinese born in
America is a citizen of the United
States. is the cause of much of
the japanese trouble in California.
The theory of our government as
expressed in the Constitution and
in the decisions of the Supreme
desire Of the Californian is the
theory Of the British empire. II
the league Of nations should decide
with Great Britain. opposition to
the league may disappear In Cali
fornia On the other hand. il the
French contention shall be upheld.
America other than the west coast
would probably applaud the decree
as supporting our Constitution
In any event. the decision will
have a far-reaching effect. The
future of the league itself. to my
mind, is involved. am free to as
sert that no grarer question. or
one OF wider importance. has been
presented to it. II its decision is
well received and is obeyed volun-
tarily and not because of military
compulsion. the morals OF the
world will be near what they
ought to be. and my hope will be
revived that the nations of the
world prefer arbitration to war.
lCnnrright, 1q2o hx Thomas r MarshaNl