Evening star., 1928-10-18

The passport was given hlm Wltnout
question as a result of the proof always
required by the Department of State OF
an applicant for passport that he Is
an American citizen. In 1911 Mr..
Hoover secured another passport and
again in 1918. when he was compelled
to go to Russia. he was issued Stlll
third passport. Further passports were
issued to him in 1915, 1915, and in
1913
"'In all applications for passports, as
well as in the original registration at
the consulate. Mr.. Hoover established
the United States as his permanent
residence. In every application ne
signed the usual form that he intended
to return to the United States with
the purpose Of residing and performing
the duties of citizenship. There never
has been the slightest question Of Mr..
Hoover's American citizenship.
I might add-although it does not
bear directly on the question of citizen
ship, which I take it was the reason
for your inquiry--that as long ago as
1920 the department heard rumor that
at one time in his carer Mr.. Hoover
had applied for British citizenship.
Merely as of passing interest, / may
say that careful inquiries were made at
the time. and it was proved to the entire
satisfaction of the department that this
rumor had no basis
Whispers Are Denounced.
"I wish as chairman" Mr.. Work
said. "to go further than this and to
publicly denounce this whispering cam
paign.
"In corroboration of the statement is
sued today 1 have had for some time
in my possession a certificate from the
proper authorities in Great Britain cer-
tifying that no application of this char
acter British citizenship or a similar
character was ever even considered or
presented. Every man who has known
Mr.. Hoover over these years has known
his lifelong and almost fanatical devo-
ton to his own country.
Another phase of these whispers is
to the effect that Mr.. Hoover voted in
British election. This is equally un-
true. He never voted or tried to vote.
But there is in course of preparation an
attempt to deceive the American people
on this point which necessitates that /
should further amplify it.
Mr. Hoover's name appeared on two
or three occasions during period from
1909 to 1914 on a printed register of
persons entitled to vote in a precinct
where he rented a house near London
and upon which he paid taxes, Anyone
who rents a house in England pays
taxes. The voting register in England
is not personal registration as it Is in
this country, but the voting roll is made
up by return from the tax lists to the
election authorities. informing them of
the names of taxpayers, there being
tax requirement for voter in that
country.
''But all taxpayers are not entitled to
vote in England any more than in this
country. There is no notification OF
persons that they are on the roll and
unless they are interested enough to In
quire. their names continue on the roll
indefinitely. subject to test if attempt Is
made to vote.
LAS I have said. MFR. Hoover never
voted. He never attempted to vote. He
was never entitled to vote. He would
have been subject to drastic penalties
if he had voted. At that very time, as
shown by the State Department state
ment, Mr.. Hoover was fully maintaining
his home at Stanford University and
San Francisco. where he or his family
resided a considerable part of each year
and where his children were educated.
Mr.. Hoover was not aware until
short time ago that his name even
appeared on the roll He became aware
of this fact only by being informed
of search being made of local records
in England by representatives OF Amer
ican detective agencies and opposition
newspapers endeavoring to find some
thing which they could launch in this
campaign. I am informed that they
have taken photographs of these rolls
and they propose to produce them in
the United States. They have raised
a fund Of money for their circulation.
To circulate this material is misrepre-
senation and slander 1t is an outrage
on Mr.. Hoover and a fraud on the
American people