No. 219.
Mr. Cramer
to Mr. Evarts.
Copenhagen, August 30, 1879. (Received September 12.)
Sir: Yesterday morning I received a note from the Danish minister for foreign affairs, dated the 27th instant, in which he requested me to inform him—
1. Whether foreigners who settle in the United States may become naturalized as citizens thereof after having resided there for two years; and, 2d, whether, in order to become naturalized, it is necessary for such foreigners to make a previous declaration that they have been absolved from the bonds that bound them to their mother country?
In reply to these, questions I addressed, under yesterday’s date, a note to the said minister, in which I quoted verbally sections 2165, 2166, and 2170 of the Revised Statutes of the United States, second edition, respecting the naturalization of aliens, as well as the last clause of section 102 of the United States Consular Regulations for 1874, in which it is declared that “Persons who have merely declared their intention to become citizens are not citizens of the United States within the meaning of the law,” and then added:
It is evident, therefore: 1. That no alien can become a citizen of the United States who has not for the continued term of five years resided within the United States; and,
2. That such alien, when he makes application to become a citizen of the United States, is not required to make a previous declaration that he has been released from the bonds that bound him to his mother country, but that he is required, under oath, to absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity by name to the prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty of which he may be at the time a citizen or subject.
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I trust that the Department will approve both the form and the substance of my reply to the minister’s two questions.
I am, &c.,