Speech #650217988

I will tell you. Because there are thousands and hundreds of thousands of perfectly loyal Americans in this country who have not been naturalized. like the Bolmians. who are furnishing thousands of the bravest troops that are enlisted under our banner. who are in this classification. and because it is necessary tllat those men should not be driven to the position of disloyalty when they are thoroughly loyal. That is ill. The interest of the country requires it. Listen to what we provided about that: That the President of the United States be. and lie is hereby. authorized and empowered. from time to time. by proclamation or otherwise. to except natives. citizens. subjects. or denizens of any country with which the United States is or may be at war. or any individual or class thereof. from the classification of alien enemies. and thereupon they shall have the privilege to apply for naturalization. and for the purl)oseJ of carrying into effect the provisions of this section. including personal services In the District of Columbia. the sum of $400.000 is heroby appropriated. to be available until June 30. 1919. including travei expenses for members of the Bureau of Naturalization and Its field service only. and the provisions of section 3679 of the Revised Statutes shall not be applicable in any way to this appropriation. 1he moment the President relieves them by a proclamation. in inlividunl cases or in classes. where loyalty is established to the salisfaction of the President. then by law they have a right to apply for naturalization just as aliens who are not alien mmenmies may apply.