Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, With the Annual Message of the President Transmitted to Congress December 3, 1906, (In two parts), Part I

[Untitled]

Department of State,
Washington, July 9, 1906.

To the diplomatic and certain consular officers of the United States.

Gentlemen: I append hereto a copy of an order of the Department of State, dated July 3, constituting James B. Scott, esq., Solicitor for the Department of State, David Jayne Hill, esq., this Government’s minister to the Netherlands, and Gaillard Hunt, esq., Chief of the Passport Bureau of this department, a board to inquire into the laws and practice regarding citizenship, expatriation, and protection abroad, and to report thereon before December next.

The board desires to ascertain:

1. The laws relating to citizenship in the country in which you reside.

2. The means by which citizenship in that country is lost.

3. Whether or not the law of that country authorizes the renunciation of citizenship, and if so, the conditions for the reacquisition of the citizenship thus renounced.

4. Whether, and how far, residence in foreign parts may affect the citizenship of origin.

5. And finally, the practice of the Government to which you are accredited in protecting its citizens permanently residing in other countries.

The law relating to naturalization and the acquisition of citizenship is also desired.

In answering this instruction you may furnish publications and appropriate references to them, together with transcripts from the laws and other recognized authorities.

You will reply to this instruction at the earliest practicable moment.^a

I am, etc.,

Robert Bacon,
Acting Secretary,

[Appendix.]

Department of State,
Washington, July 3, 1906.

It is ordered that a board be convened at the Department of State in the city of Washington on the 9th of July, 1906, to inquire into the laws and practice regarding citizenship of the United States, expatriation, and protection abroad and to report recommendations for legislation to be laid before Congress at the next session, pursuant to the recommendation of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives contained in the report of the committee dated June 6, 1906, on Senate resolution 30, Fifty-ninth Congress, first session.

The board will be composed of James B. Scott, esq., Solicitor for the Department of State; David Jayne Hill, esq., minister to the Netherlands; and Gaillard Hunt, esq., Chief of the Passport Bureau, Department of State. Samuel B. Crandall, clerk in the library, Department of State, will act as secretary of the board.

The chief clerk of the department will furnish the necessary room, stationery, and messenger service.

The board will make its final report to the Assistant Secretary of State on or before the first Monday of December, 1906.

Robert Bacon,
Acting Secretary.

1. All the replies to this circular have been published and printed in H, Doc. 326, 59th Cong., 2d sess., pp. 271–538.