Speech #490001412

It being contrary to the general rule of this Government to allow interest on claims. I recommend the repeal of the provision in question. and the disposition. under a uniform rule. of the present accumulations from investment of trust funds. The inadequacy of existing legislation touching citizenship and naturalization demands your consideration. While recognizing the right of expatriation. no statutory provision exists providing means for renouncing citizenship by an American citizen. nativeborn or naturalized. nor for terminating and vacating an improper acquisition of citizenship. Even a fraudulent decree of naturalization can not now be canceled. The privilege and franchise of American citizenship should be granted with care. and extended to those only who intend in good faith to assume its duties and responsibilities when attaining its privileges and benefits. it should be withheld from those who merely go through the forms of naturalization with the intent of escaping the duties of their original allegiance without taking upon themselves those of their new status. or who may ac. quire the rights of American citizenship fbr no other than a hostile purpose toward their original governments. These evils have had many flagrant illustrations. I regard with favor the suggestion put forth by one of my predecessors that provision be made fbr a central bureau of record of the decrees of naturalization granted by the various courts throughout the United States now invested with that power. The rights which spring from domicile in the United States. especially when coupled with a declaration of intention to become a citizen. are worthy of definition by statute. The stranger coming hither qith intent to remain. establishing his residence in our midst. contrib:ting to the general welfare. and. by his voluntary act. declaring his purpose to assume the responsibilities of citizenship. thereby gains an inchoate status which legislation may properly define. The laws of certain States and Territories admit a domiciled alien to the local franchise. conferring on him the rights of citizenship to a degree which places him in the anomalous position of being a citizen of a State. and yetnot of the United States. within the purview of Federal and international law. It is important within the scope of national legislation to define this right of alien domicile as distinguished from Federal naturalization. The commercial relations of the United States with their immediate neighbors and with important areas of traffic near our shores suggest especially liberal intercourse between them and us. Following the treaty of 1883 with Mexico. which rested on the basis of a reciprocal exemption from customs duties. other similar treaties were initiated by my predecessor.