NATURALISATION.

Patea Mail, Volume XLIII, 21 March 1919, Page 1

NATURALISATION.

AMERICA AND ENEMY ALIENS

In a letter to tho “New York World" of November 29. Mr. Merton A, Sturgcs, chief naturalisation examiner, states the conditions under which subjects of Germany and Austria-Hungary may bo admitted to citizenship of the United States: — “The only legal restriction upon tho granting of' citizenship to alien enemies is that certain notice must ho given in their cases, during which rigid investigation into their conduct is made from which to determine their loyalty, and behaviour. The German or Austrian subjSjct who has shown unquestioned loyalty to America during the period of his residence here, and who can meet the requirements of the general naturalisation law, will experience no embarrassment except the delay incident) to tho largo number of individual cases under investigation. “The Act of Congress approved May 9, 1918 provides that no petition for naturalisation filed by an alien enemy shall bo ‘called for a hearing, or heard, except after 90 days’ notice given by tho Clerk of the Court to tho Commissioner or Deputy Commissioner of Naturalisation to be present, and tlio petition shall bo given no final hearing except, in open court and after such notice to the representative of the Government from the Bureau of Naturn 1 - isntion. whose objection shall cause the edition to ho continued from time to time for so long a K the Government may require.’ “In many cases in Greater New York city, the investigation conducted Uy various branches of the Federal Government has fully established tho loyalty of the applicants, and the objection (o their eases has been removed and the usual notice of hearing given by the cleric of Hie Court. Similar action w ; 'l he taken in all meritorious raises ;m rapidly as they can be * cached. Ni lan- ha,, been passed lengthening the life of declarations of intention or first papers except in cases where proper applications for final papers wore filed before Jan 31, 1918, supported by ‘old law’ first papers.” *