Mr. Hay to Mr. Hardy.
Washington, D. C., February 2, 1899.
Sir: I have to acknowledge the receipt of your No. 45, of December 21, 1898, relating to the claims of Mr. Bagdasarian and Dr. J. G. Wishard against the Government of Persia.
[Page 529]You report that the validity of each of these claims has been admitted by the Persian Government, and that in each of them a demand has been made for an indemnity in the sum of 200 tomans.
Your action is approved, and you are instructed to press the payment of the claims.
Referring to your No. 38, of August 8, 1898, I have to say that the Department approves generally your views therein expressed as to the line of conduct to be pursued by you toward natives of oriental countries who have come to the United States and become naturalized, and have then gone abroad without any intention of returning to the United States. The duty of allegiance goes hand in hand with the right of protection. Those who become naturalized as American citizens and then take up their permanent abode in a foreign land lose the right to claim the protection of this Government when they cease to pay it allegiance.
In coming to a determination in any particular case whether protection should be granted or refused, great care should be taken not to withhold protection where it may be justly claimed; but you are authorized to refuse it if upon a careful investigation you are satisfied that the privilege of naturalization has been abused for the mere sake of protection, and without any bona fide intention to bear allegiance to the United States.
I am, etc.,