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longer by diplomatic and certain consular officers of the United States; but that in order to provide for cases of emergency diplomatic and certain consular officers of the United States be authorized to issue under prescribed regulations provisional passports for a particular journey or occasion, and limited in the length of time of their validity to not more than six months.

(b) That for the purpose of meeting the demands of the local authorities in foreign countries American citizens who have registered in accordance with the law as heretofore recommended be furnished, under departmental regulations, with a statement to the effect that they are so registered, and that complete lists of American citizens thus registered be reported to the Department of State every three months.

We also make this additional recommendation:

That the diplomatic officers of the United States be instructed to open negotiations with the governments to which they are accredited extending and perfecting the treaty relations of the United States with respect to the rights of Americans in order to secure to American citizens rights and privileges in accordance with the recommendations of this report.

No recommendation for a change in existing practice is made with reference to those countries in which the United States exercises extraterritorial jurisdiction, and the recommendations for legislative and executive action are not applicable to such countries. The subject of extraterritoriality is fully treated in Appendix I B. Respectfully submitted.

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JAMES B. SCOTT, DAVID J. HILL, GAILLARD HUNT, Members of the Board.

DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
Washington, July 3, 1906.

It is ordered that a board be convened at the Department of State in the city of Washington on the 9th day of July, 1906, to inquire into the laws and practice regarding citizenship of the United States, expatriation, and protection abroad, and to report recommendations for legislation to be laid before Congress at the next session, pursuant to the recommendation of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives contained in the report of the committee dated June 6, 1906, on Senate resolution 30, Fifty-ninth Congress, first session.

The board will be composed of James B. Scott, esq., solicitor for the Department of State; David Jayne Hill, esq., minister to the Netherlands, and Gaillard Hunt, esq., chief of the passport bureau, Department of State. Samuel B. Crandall, clerk in the library, Department of State, will act as secretary of the board.

The chief clerk of the Department will furnish the necessary room, stationery, and messenger service.

The board will make its final report to the Assistant Secretary of State on or before the first Monday of December, 1906.

ROBERT BACON,
Acting Secretary.

I. PROTECTION OF AMERICAN CITIZENS ABROAD.

RECOMMENDATIONS AND OBSERVATIONS.

Recommendations.

First. That in order to render more effective the national policy of regarding voluntary expatriation from one country to another as a right, and to secure the equal protection of American native and naturalized citizens abroad, negotiations should be undertaken to extend and perfect the treaty relations of the United States with foreign countries.

Second. That in order to prevent the abuse of American passports in foreign countries, the customary American passport be henceforth issued only by the Department of State at Washington, to be valid for only two years, but subject to one, and only one, extension, when found necessary, for two years longer, by designated diplomatic and consular officers of the United States. In cases of emergency designated diplomatic and consular officers should be authorized to issue a provisional passport for a particular journey or occasion and limited in time to a period not to exceed six months upon the application of properly accredited American citizens in foreign countries.

Third. That in order to give additional protection to American citizens resident abroad for purposes of study, health, commerce, or other proper reasons, a certificate of nativity be furnished upon proper application to the Department of State at Washington, stating the place of origin, date of birth, names and nationality of parents, and last place of residence in the United States.

Fourth. That American citizens residing continuously for more than one year in any foreign country be required to register with the most convenient United States consular officer once each year, in a book provided for that purpose, their full names and places of residence, together with the date and place of their birth, the names and nationality of their parents, their occupation, their last place of residence in the United States, and their place of residence in the consular district, accompanied with a solemn assurance of their continued allegiance to the United States and of their intention to return thereto. An entry of the names, ages, and places of birth of a wife or of minor children should also be required.

Fifth. That upon arriving at the age of 18 years every male child of an American citizen who has passed the previous five years out of the United States and desires to enjoy the protection of his Government should be required to record at the most convenient American consulate his intention to become a resident of the United States and to take the oath of allegiance thereto on attaining his majority.

Sixth. That for the purpose of meeting the demands of the local police in foreign countries American citizens residing abroad who have complied with the requirements of registration be furnished, upon application, by the consular officer in whose office they have registered, with an officially stamped statement to that effect, good for one year, and that a complete list of all persons thus registered be reported every three months to the Department of State at Washington.

Observations.

I.

An American citizen going abroad is entitled to the protection of this Government against unlawful molestation of his person and property.

This protection has always been accorded to naturalized citizens equally with native citizens, except that there was fluctuation in the practice of protecting naturalized citizens upon their return to the country of their origin until the act of July 27, 1868 (15 Stat. L., 223), forbade any discrimination whatever between native and naturalized citizens. The act, as embodied in the Revised Statutes, section, 2000, is as follows:

All naturalized citizens of the United States while in foreign countries are entitled to and shall receive. from this Government the same protection of persons and property which is accorded to native-born citizens.

This law was a natural result of the practice and contention of the Government from the time of its independence.

After the Declaration of Independence and before the adoption of the Constitution, naturalization was a function of the several State governments, and Delaware, Maryland, South Carolina, and Virginia had general naturalization laws. The law of Delaware provided that after taking the necessary oaths of allegiance an alien

shall thereupon and thereafter be deemed, adjudged, and taken to be a naturalborn subject of this State; and he shall be thenceforth entitled to all the immunities, rights, and privileges of a natural-born subject of this State: Provided. That no person who shall become such a subject of the State, by virtue of this act, shall be appointed to any civil office, or eligible as president [of Delaware]. member of the privy council or general assembly, unless such person shall have resided within this State five years previous to such election or appointment. and shall have the other qualifications of age and property required by the constitution or system of government.

The law of Maryland said the person naturalized

shall thereupon and thereafter be deemed, adjudged, and taken to be a naturalborn subject of this State; and he shall be thenceforth entitled to all the immunities, rights, and privileges of a natural-born subject of this State: Provided. That no person who shall become a natural-born subject of this State by virtue of this act shall be appointed to any civil office, or eligible as governor, member of the council or general assembly, or as a delegate to Congress, unless such person shall have resided within this State seven years previous to such election or appointment, and shall have the property and estate required by the constitution and form of government to execute any of the said offices, respectively. The law of Virginia said those naturalized

shall be entitled to all the rights, privileges, and advantages of citizens, except that they shall not be capable of election or appointment to any office, legislative, executive, or judicial, until an actual residence in the State of two years from the time of taking such oaths or affirmations aforesaid, nor until they shall have

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