Speech #760054148

Without objection. the bill will be received and referred. as requested by the Senator from Massachusetts. and the bill and statement referred to will be printed in the RECORD. The bill conferring citizenship upon alien World War veterans was read twice by its title. referred to the Committee on Immigration. and ordered to be printed in the RECORD. as follows: Be it enacted. etc.. That all alien veterans whb served in the armed forces of the United States during the World War for any period of time between April 6. 1917. and November 11. 1918. who Were honorably discharged from such service. be. and they are hereby declared to be. citizens of the United States. provided (1) that such alien veterans have been legally residing within the territorial limits of the United States for the past year. and (2) that such alien veterans have not. since their discharge from such service. taken any oath of allegiance to any foreign power. and (3) that such alien veterans have not been convicted of any felony within the past 5 years. The explanatory statement relative to the bill presented by Mr. WALSH is as follows: This bill confers United States citizenship upon all alien World War veterans who served in the armed forces of the United States. provided that (1) such alien veterans were honorably discharged from such service. (2) such alien veterans have been legal residents within the territorial limits of the United States for the past year. (3) such alien veterans have not since their discharge taken any oath of allegiance to any foreign power. and (4) such alien veterans have not been convicted of any felony within the past 5 years. The bill conforms to previous acts of the Congress which have granted certain exemptions to alien veterans in order to assist them in becoming naturalized. although no act has conferred citizenship forthwith as would this bill. The Congress heretofore. for a limited period. however. gave to alien veterans the privilege of filing petition for citizenship upon showing only 1 years residence and good moral character for 1 year. But all aliens generally are now required to show 5 years residence and good moral character for 5 years before they may become naturalized. There are said to be hundreds of alien World War veterans who still believe that because they took the oath of allegiance to this country when they were inducted into the United States forces they automatically became American citizens. Many of the States even grant certain privileges of American citizenship to honorably discharged veterans. such as permitting them to register and vote upon showing their honorable discharge certificates. But while the Congrss has paid veterans their adjustedservice certificates. and in many cases awarded them compensation for their World War disabilities. yet many such veterans are still in fact aliens despite their honorable service on behalf of the United States. Such alien veterans are denied the privilege of taking civilservice examinations. whereas veterans who are citizens are given preferences in such examinations. Many alien veterans have even been deported from this country and separated from their American wives and children. Many alien veterans have been dropped from W. P.