File No. 13767/1.
The Secretary of State to Ambassador Hill.
Washington, January 28, 1909.
Sir: In inclose herewith copy of a letter from the Hon. Murphy J. Foster, covering one from Dr. C. Joachim, of New Orleans, regarding the case of Mrs. Mathias, Dr. Joachim’s sister, now in an insane asylum in Lorraine.
As will be noted from the inclosures, it appears to be desired that a native-born German woman who emigrated to this country, married an American citizen, from whom she was later separated (whether by absolute divorce or mere separation does not appear), and who after this returned to Germany, in which place she has since become insane, shall be received in a certain German sanitarium upon the same terms as a German subject. The department desires that you investigate this matter at once and report to it what can be done under the circumstances.
In connection with your investigation and action upon the case, it should be borne in mind that under the language of our statutes as well as under the department’s rulings and instructions (see sec. 3, act of Mar. 2, 1907; the Executive orders of Apr. 2, 1907, and Apr. 19, 1907),1 a woman, an American citizen, marrying an alien takes the nationality of her husband, and she does not become a reintegrated citizen of the United States except upon the death of her: husband or upon the securing of an absolute divoce, a mere separation not having this effect.
I am, sir, etc.,
- See Foreign Relations, 1907, p. 3, et seq.↩