NATIONALITY TANGLE

Waipawa Mail, Volume LXVI, Issue 94, 16 May 1938, Page 1

NATIONALITY TANGLE

A SEAMAN’S DIFFICULTIES. LONDON, April 14. Weary after a 200-mile hitch-hike from Manchester, 38-year-old Lawrence McDermott arrived in London to try to settle the problem of his nationality. According to the authorities in this country McDermott is an American. Bui the United States will not recognise him as an American. Me has been deported from both countries. McDermott said: “I don’t care very much what the authorities sav 1 am as long as they say I am something—British or American.” McDermott- was born in Manchester. He left there when he was ten with his father and mother and two sisters for Canada. In 1923 McDermott crossed from Canada to the United States, and unable In get a job joined an American regiment under an assumed name, telling the army authorities that he was an American. 1 He bought himself out of the Amelican army, went back to his old life —the -ea. His ship docked at Salford (Lancashire) and he was lined for a minor offence. His American army discharge certificate was found on him, and he "deported to America—as an alien.. The American emigration officers sent him back to Britain—as an alien. j McDermott said that he was un- | aide to get work in a British ship | because lie was told he was an Amei “I can’t get a job here. lam rcI fused the dole. So what can I do? “As mi alien 1 have to report to Ihe police every 24 hours. lam I treated worse than a convict on I license, who is only required to re- ! port to the police one a month.” I It was nearly daybreak when McI Dermott reached London. Tie registered at the Aliens Office in Bow | street. | Later lie went to the Home Office, i explained the position to one of the i officials in the Naturalisation Dej partment, and was told the matter would be looked into at once.