MARRIED TO AMERICAN SERVICEMEN

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 122, 18 February 1944, Page 6

MARRIED TO AMERICAN SERVICEMEN

-New Zealand Women

' Annjreneements in the daily press of ie Domiinon of the marriage or engag—lent of: New Zealand girls with United ‘ates servicemen have been fairly fre.ent for many 'months. Some interest-

.g figures were given yesterday by the Minister in charge of the Registrar-Gen-eral's Department, Mr. Parry, showing that up to December last 736 New Zealand women contracted marriage in New Zealand with. United States servicemen. Referring to the question of future nationality of the girls concerned, Mr. 3?arry said that in general the wife of an alien, under the British Nationality and Status of Aliens (ill New Zealand) Amendment Act, 1934-35, was deemed to be an alien. There was this exception: when a woman, being a British subject, married an alien, she was not deemed to be an alien unless she acquired the nationality of her husband pursuant to the laws of the husband’s country. Viccording to the United States law, marriage did not confer citizenship on a foreign wife. Consequently a British woman marrying a United States citizen retained British nationality and travelled on a British passport. Before September 22, 1922, the marriage of an alien womaii fo an American citizen conferred citizenship on that woman. A subsequent measure, known as the Cable Act. enacted by the Legislature of the United States, terminated’that position.