Evening star., 1925-04-24
DUAL NATIONALITY
ISSUE DISCUSSED
Society of International Law
Takes Up Troublesome
Question.

Taking up the broad question of
nationality by birth and by naturali.
zation, the American Society of Inter.
national Law, meeting today at the
New Willard Hotel, heard a proposal
that dual nationality cases involving
the United states and European
countries should be settled by statutes
| and conventions to augment the
present laws and heard the theory OF
indelible single nationality attacked
by speakers who contended that
citizenship does not necessarily lie
where the interests of an individual
are established. At the same time the
theory of the United States that East
Indians are inadmissable to this coun-
try was assailed by Taraknath Das
an East Indian attorney.
The entire membership of the so
Ciety will be received by President
Coolidge at the White House at 4:3C
O'Clock this afternoon. Members will
he introduced to the President by
Charles Evans Hughes, former Secre
tary of State and president of the so.
ciety, who is presiding at all the ses-
sionS of the organization. Mr.. Hughes
opened the three-day meeting of the
society at the Willard last night with
n address, in which he declared that
codification and clarification of inter
national law is the best guaranty of
peace between nations of the world.
Dual Nationality Troublesome.
Richard w. Flournoy, jr. assistant
TO the solicitor for the State Depart
ment, told the society today that
whereas few, if any, conflicting
claims of citizenship arise between the
United States and Latin American
countries, the dual nationality cases
which are continually causing trouble
10 the State Department and to diplo-
matte and consular officers abroad in
volve conflicts between the laws of
p the United States and laws of Euro,
pean countries"
From the standpoint of this coun-
try, Mr. Flournoy added, statutes
and conventions to settle these latter
cases, which are continually arising,
are greatly needed, while the need of
adopting special statutes and conven-
tions to settle possible conflicts arising
between the United States and Latin
American republics is doubtful" MIR.
Flournoy asserted that the United
states would not consent, in his belief
to rule under which persons born
In its territory could, while remain
ing domiciled in the United States,
cast off allegiance to this country, or
that any of the American republics
would agree to such a rule
A very large portion of our native
population is of alien parentage, and
it is unthinkable that persons of this
class should be free to cast off allie.
continuing to live in this country.
Fears Harm i'm Change.
Progress made thus far in estab-
fishing the principle that individuals
nave right to voluntarily change
their allegiance would receive q severe
blow through any recognition at this
time that a government may prevent
the exercise of the right. Green H
HackWorth, assistant solicitor of the
state Department, told the society.
To make our readiness to admit to
citizenship worthy aliens who have
established themselves in our country
subserviant to the wishes of other
governments would, while avoiding
the international complications which
frequently result when naturalized
citizens return to those States, be of
doubtful soundness from the national
point of view" he added. Such a
policy would, it is believed, inevitably
result in greater restrictions on i'm
migration from countries declining to
accord naturalization full recognition" 4"
Naturalization conventions have
been concluded by the United States
with II foreign nations, Mr.. Hack
worth said, although 1t has not been
possible to negotiate naturalization
conventions with France, Greece,
Italy and Turkey France, he said,
does not recognize the naturalization
of her nationals abroad unless con-
sent of the government to throw off
French nationality has been obtained,
while if the national is of age for
military service, the consent is rarely,
If
lied abroad without the consent of his
government, who at the date of natu-
raliZation was still subject to military
service. remains French under French