Speech #620062186

I think the Members of this House clearly understand that Russian consular officers will not. as a general rule. vis6 the passport of a Jew. nor will the passport be honored until the holder of it. whoever he may be. answers inquiries as to his religion. That answer is imperatively insisted upon before the Russian authorities will grant a vis6 in any case. Let it be clearly borne in mind that the restrictions Russia imposes apply equally to the native and the naturalized citizens. I have known of cases of American citizens of Russian birth whose wish was to return to their native land to visit the sickbed of a parent to minister to his need or to comfort him even in his or her dying hour. to revisit scenes of early childhood. going there on errands of kindness or of charity or to renew friendships of old. to reverentially go to the grave of a delparted parent or a departed child and there breathe a silent prayer. and yet when the passport of that citizen was offered for vis6. though the reason for the contemplated journey to Russia was stated to the Russian consular officer. the vis& was withheld and the passport regarded as so much worthless paper. Surely. to most of our citizens who have met with Russias refusal on the presentation of their passports. it must be as astonishing as it is sorely humiliating to be advised by a circular of our American Department of State that though an American citizen. but formerly having been a subject of Russia. on returning to that country he places himself within the juris. diction of Russian law and can not expect immunity from its operations. And this. Mr. Speaker. in face of the statute of this country that recognizes the doctrine of expatriation and holds out a guaranty of protection to every naturalized citizen. The United States Revised Statutes provide: Si:c. 1999. Whereas the right of expatriation is a natural and inherent right of all people. indispensable to the enjoyment of the rights of life. liberty. and the pursuit of happiness. and whereas in the recognition of this principle this Government has freely received emigrants from all nations and invested them with the rights of citizenship. and whereas It Is claimed that such American citizens. with their descendants. are subjects of foreign states. owing allegiance to the governments thereof. and whereas it is necessary to the maintenance of public peace that this claim of foreign allegiance should be promptly and finally disallowed : Therefore. any declaration. Instruction. opinion. order. or decision of any officer of the United States which denies. restricts. Impairs. or questions the right of expatriation Is declared inconsistent with the fundamental principles of the Republic. S.c. 2000. 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 nativeborn citizens. Sinc. 2001. Whenever it Is made known to the President that any citizen of the United States has been unjustly deprived of his liberty by or under the authority of any foreign government. it shall be the duty of the President forthwith to demand of that government the reasons of such Imprisonment. and If it appears to be wrongful and in violation of the rights of American citizenship the President shall forthwith demand the release of such citizen. and if the release so demanded Is unreasonably delayed or reftsed the President shall use such means. not amounting to acts of war. as he may think necessary and proper to cbtain or effectuate the release. and all the facts and proceedings relative thereto shall. as soon as practicable. be communieated by the President to Congress. True. Russia denies the right of expatriation. and insists that her subject who has become a naturalized American citizen will still be regarded by Russia as subject to her jurisdiction should he ever again enter her territory. and be amenable to the severe penalties of her law after having left the Empire without her consent. Such a claim of subjection is so utterly inconsistent with our fundamental principles of government. so utterly inconsistent with the statutory declaration to which I have called attention. so completely at war with every principle of American equality. that we can not afford. with any selfrespect. to continue in operation a treaty upon which Russia insists placing an interpretation which sets at defiance our Governments demand for equal treatment of our citizens. Every diplomatic agency that has been so far employed has failed to secure the correction of the grievance.