Speech #650234196

It is well guarded. In the first place. the petition must have been filed not less than two nor more than seven years before the war. We go further and say that no alien embraced in that subdivision shall have his petition for naturalization called for a hearing. or heard. except after 90 days notice given by the clerk of the court to the Commissioner or Deputy Commissioner of Naturalization to be present. and the petition shall be given no final hearing except in open court and after such notice to the representative of the Government from the Bureau of Naturalization.. whose objection shall cause the petition to be continued from time to time for so long as the Government may require. I think that is selfexplanatory. For the purpose of enabling these people in that condition. after due notice of 90 days. to the Naturalization Bureau agents toinvestigate the question as to whether these people are loyal or not. There are thousands of people from AustriaHungaryBohemin and Morayianwho are just as much with us in this war as the Americans. and yet these people by the accident of birth are included in the class of alien enemies not entitled to perfect their citizenship. It is for the purpose of protecting such cases as that that we put in this provision. There is an amendment to that. that the President may in his discretion. upon investigation and report by the Department of Justice fully establishing the loyalty of any alien enemy not included in the foregoing exemption. except such alien enemy from the classification of alien enemy. and thereupon lie shall have the privilege of applying for naturalization. One member of the conference committee. my good friend from Washington . called attention to a case of extreme hardship. where a washerwoman ifithis city was in the Class of an alien enemy and about to be interned. This gives the President. not the right to select classes and say that they shall be exempt from the alien enemies. but upon investigation by the Department of Justice as to the loyalty of individuals. the President may remove the ban of the condition of an ali~n enemy from these people. and thereupon they may apply for naturalization.