Evening star., 1942-05-12
Letters to the Editor
Argues That Loyalty Statute"
Should be Enforced in Wartime.
Tn the Edftor of The Star.


Should be Enforced in Wartime.
To the Editor of The Star:
On January 80, 1899, 143 years ago,
and not long after the adoption of the
American Constitution and the amend
ments constituting our Bill of Rights,
the Congress of the United States en-
acted public law which, with some
amendments, exists today In full force
and virtue.
This law which originally appeared in
the first published volume Of our statutes
may truly be denominated the American
Statute Of Loyalty, and today, particu-
larly, its provisions should serve as a
warning to every person residing in this
country or under its jurisdiction and to
all citizens of the United States wher-
ever they may be.
The statute referred to is designed to
punish all persons who, without permis-
sion or authority, shall commence or
carry on, directly or indirectly, any
verbal or written correspondence or in
tercourse with any foreign government
intent to influence the measures or con-
duct Of any foreign government or of
any officer or agent thereof in relation
to any disputes or controversies with the
United States, or to defeat any meas
ure Of the Government of the United
States. And this law also applies to
every person, whether or not he be
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United States, or any place subject to
its Jurisdiction, who counselS, advises,
or assists in any such correspondence
with such intent. The punishment pro-
vided for violation of this statute is
fine of not more than $1,000 and i'm
prisonment for not more than three
years.
Thus in the early days of our Nation,
1t was deemed wise to safeguard against
any effort of any one here who, for any
reason, private or otherwise, might be
tempted thus to imperil or endanger the
security of, or the orderly procedure Of
affairs in, this country.
During the past few years we have
been annoyed by sporadic outbursts OF
activities, more or less subversive, on the
part of various individuals living here
or elsewhere under our jurisdiction. Such
activities are not chargeable to any
appreciable extent whatever to natural
born American citizens whose ante
cedents were Of American birth nor to
any very great extent to naturalized
citizens of long standing. The principal
cause, therefore, must be found among
those who are neither citizens by birth
nor naturalized citizens of long standing
and who are either here in the status
of an immigrant or recently naturalized
citizen. If this assumption be correct.
the fundamental cause must then be
attributed to the character of immigra-
ton which we had permitted.
1t was very encouraging to note in the
press that the Attorney General pur-
poses to take steps to cancel certificates
of naturalization of those who have vio-
lated the oath of allegiance to the United
States which in all cases is a prerequi-
site to becoming a naturalized citizen.
Undoubtedly, such violators have be-
trayed the trust reposed in them and
doubtless there are many who took the
oath of allegiance with mental reserva-
tions. At all events, they seem to be
individuals who are quite willing to ac-
cept all benefits which now from citi-
zenship but inwardly repudiate any
thought of loyalty to this country, par
ticularly when 1t conflicts with their
secretly held loyalty and allegiance to
another country although they were spe.
cihcally required to renQuncs al such