Speech #690222799

With this object in view. the passage of S. 2770 is recommended. Section 1 provides that all former Danish citizens who have continued to reside in the Virgin Islands or in the United States and who did not preserve their Danish citizenship underthe terms of article 6 of the convention. and also all natives of the islands who were temporarily absent at the time of the cession and who have since returned and now reside in the islands. and their children born subsequent to the date of transfer of sovereignty from Denmark to the United States. shall be citizens of. the United States. Section 2 provides for a special mode of naturalization for those who were absent from the islands and have received an honorable discharge from the military or naval forces of the United States. Section 3 provides for persons hereafter born in the Virgin Islands of the United Slates. The rule of citizenship already provided in the fourteenth amendment to the Constitution of the United States. Section 4 provides that the District Court of the United States for Porto Rico shall have jurisdiction for the naturalization of aliens residing in the Virgin Islands of the United States. The enactment of this legislation is an act of justice to these people. who will thus be given fresh courage for the larger problems crying for solution and renewed confidence in the great Nation of which they were glad to become a part. Mr.