Evening star., 1941-09-11
Loss Of Citizenship
Faces Hundreds Of
Americans Abroad
DeodIine for NoturoIized-.
Persons to Return
Home Is October Ia
BY LLOYD LEHRBAS,
Associated Press Stan Writer.

mitted by the Nationality Act OF
1910 will lose their American citizen
ship unless they return to the United
States by October IA.
Oficials said today the new law
becomes effective on that date and
any naturalized Americans outside
American territory-unless they are
within categories excepted by the
act-will automatically forfeit their
citizenship.
They said that all of the absent
Americans have been warned
through United States consulates in
European and Asiatic countries of
the laws provisions and the conse-
quences of its violation.
Some naturaliZed Americans. de-
sirous of returning to this country,
have been stranded in belligerent
territory or other areas which they
have been unable to leave, because of
disrupted transportation facili-
ties.
Efforts Are Intensified.
The State Department, which has
arranged for the return of more
than $4,000 Americans since the start
of the war, is now intensifying efforts
to arrange for their transportation
home before October IA.
In that category, officials said, are
between IS and 100 naturalized
Americans living in the British Isles.
Until the State Department an
nounced new policy yesterday, they
had been unable to secure maritime
transportation back to the United
States since American ships are
barred from navigating belligerent
waters.
Secretary Hull has explained that
major reason for permitting Amer
leans in the British Isles to take
passage on foreign vessels was to
enable them to save their citizen
ship.
The Neutrality Act prohibits
Americans from travelling on bellig-
erent vessels except in accordance
with such rules and regulations as
may be prescribed" by the Secretary
of State acting under authority from
the President.
Sail at Own Risk.
Under the emergency rule Ameri-
cans living in the British Isles who
can show urgent need to return to
this country may secure visas from
American consular officers there to
sail at their own risk on British,
Norwegian, Dutch or other vessels
sailing from British ports.
Although heretofore only q very
small number of exceptions have
been granted, between so and so
Americans have lost their lives when
the foreign ships on which they were
travelling were sunk by German SUBJ
marines, planes or mines. Twenty
eight Americans died In the sink
ing of the British liner Athena, lost
September 3, 1899.
The Nationality Act of 1910 pro-
vide that a nauralized American
shall lose his citizenship by:
/. Residing for at least two years
in the country where he was born,
or of which he was formerly a ma
tional, If he acquires through such
residence the nationality of that
state.
2. Residing continuously for three
years in the country of his birth
or OF which he was formerly a ma
tional, except as exempted by spe-
cific provisions of the law.
8. Residing continuously for five
years in any other foreign state, ex-
cept as exempted by the law.
Rules on Exemptions.
Those exempted from the time
limit on residence in foreign coun-
tries include:
Persons employed by or under the
orders Of the United States Govern
ment.
Persons receiving compensation
from the United States Government
and residing abroad on account of
disability incurred in its services.
Persons who resided in the United
States not less than Is years subse-
quent to naturalization and who
were 65 years old when foreign resi-
dence was established.
Residents abroad representing a
bona fide American educational,
scientific, philanthropic, religious,
commercial, financial, or business
organization having its principal
Office in the United States, or paid
representatives of an international
agency Of an official character In
which the United States participates.
Persons residing abroad on ac-
count of i'll health.
Persons residing abroad to pursue
studies Of specialized character or
attending an institution of learning
(above that of preparatory SCHOOL,
for a period not exceeding five years.
Wife, husband, or person under
21 residing abroad with an American
citizen who is exempt from the laws
provisions.
A person born in the United States
or its possessions, originally of
American nationality, and who after
having lost such nationality by mar
riage. reacquired American citizen
ship.