TURNED DOWN.

Waikato Times, Volume 109, Issue 18339, 27 May 1931, Page 9

TURNED DOWN.

CITIZENSHIP REFUSED. BRITISH PROFESSOR’S SUIT. QUESTION OF ARMS-BEARING. WASHINGTON,- May 25. As the climax to the long attempt by Dr. Douglas Macintosh, a British subject of Canada, a former chaplain with the Canadian and American armies, and now Professor of Theology at Yale University, to obtain citizenship in the United States, the Supreme Court has rendered a decision that he is ineligible, due to his preference to bear arms for the country only in what he considered to be a “just war/’ The case aroused international Interest from many angles, among which was the question whether the' Court could render a decision involving “freedom of thought," in which the forced bearing of arms by conscientious objectors might be sanctioned. Representatives of the Quaker Church and a group of Episcopal bishops intervened in the case, but the Court held that no question of religious anti-war scruples entered into the discussion. The Court asserted that Professor Macintosh was Ineligible, since a citizen must support bis country as may be necessary and not as he may desire. However, Chief Justice . Hughes submitted a dissenting opinion, in which he stated the Professor’s reservations were iri accord with the stand which had been taken time and time again by statesmen, both here and abroad. The Supreme Court, at the same time, refused to grant citizenship to a former British Army nurse (Miss Marie Bland), who said she was not willing lo bear arms, although she would do whatever else was necessary for the army. Professor Macintosh,- when informed of the Court’s decision, stated: “I am not budging from my stand one bit, and I will riiake no further attempt to obtain citizenship if my viewpoint is iiol acceptable."