He says there are hundreds of thousands of citizens of the United States who are natives of Germany or Austria and who. therefore. might have conscientious scruples against fighting their relatives in those countries. against engaging in war with those countries. That may be true. There is a very large element of our population which is composed of natives of one or the other of those countries. but if they are naturalized citizens when they became naturalized they renounced all allegiance to all foreign countries. sovereignties. princes. and potentates whatsoever. especially allegiance to the country from which they came. They took an oath. they swore that they renounced all allegiance to those countries. I know that it is the custom of many judges. who are authorized by law to admit foreigners to citizenship by naturalization. to ask applicants whether. if war should arise between the United States and their native countries. they would be willing to take up arms on behalf of the United States and fight the armies of their native countries. anld some judges. make it a rule. if applicants do not answer the question in the affirmative. to deny the right of citizenship. and I think they are right in doing so. Unless a man is willing so to east his lot withi us as to take up arms in the event of war between this country and the country of his birth. I do not believe lie is entitled to American citizenship or that he would make a good citizen. If there are any naturalized citizens who are not willing to take up arms against the country of their birth. I think their citizenship ought to be revoked. I do not believe they are worthy of being citizens of this country.
Identified stereotypes
Naturalized citizens from Germany or Austria may have divided loyalties.