File No. 860c.01/79
The Secretary of State to
the Representative of the Polish National Committee (
Paderewski)
Washington,
March 26, 1918.
Sir: I acknowledge the receipt of your letter
of February 211 with
reference to the selection by the National Polish Committee of
Michael Kwapiszewski to act as your
representative in charge of the issuance of certificates of Polish
nationality to Poles born in Germany and in Austria, as well as in
Russian Poland.
You request permission to open subagencies in certain of the larger
centers of Polish immigration in the United States at which applications
for certificates can be received and transmitted for consideration to
the main agency, at which Mr. Kwapiszewski will
officiate.
You call my attention to the fact that the British Government has
authorized the National Polish Committee to issue certificates to Poles
resident in the United Kingdom, and you submit a summary of the British
declaration on this subject.
I enclose herewith a copy of a letter I received from the Attorney
General, which, as you will note, refers to items 1 and 2 of the British
declaration.
I am inclined to think that the proposed certificates may be accepted by
this Government, in lieu of passports, in cases of Poles departing from
the United States. However, the Department would prefer not to make a
final decision upon this matter until it has seen the form of
certificate to be used and has been informed more definitely as to the
proofs of identity and national status upon which they are to be issued
as all persons having the legal status of alien enemies are required to
obtain the permission of the Department of Justice before they leave
this country. This Department is of the opinion that the proposed
certificate should set forth the date and place of birth of the holder,
the place of his residence prior to his immigration to the United
States, and the nationality which he was recognized as being at the time
of his arrival in this country. The signed photograph of the person to
whom the certificate is
[Page 211]
issued
should be attached thereto, with an impression of the seal of the office
by which the document is granted, placed partly upon the photograph and
partly upon the certificate.
I am [etc.]
The Attorney General (
Gregory) to
the Secretary of State
Washington,
March 21, 1918.
My Dear Mr. Secretary: I have the honor to
acknowledge receipt of your communication of March 8,2 enclosing copy of
communication addressed to your Department by Mr. Ignace J. Paderewski,
representative of the National Polish Committee of Paris, on the
subject of the establishment in the United States of agencies for
the purpose of issuing certificates of Polish nationality to Poles
born in Germany and in Austria, as well as in Russian Poland, in
which communication Mr. Paderewski states that the Polish Committee have
selected Michael Kwapiszewski as their
representative to take charge of the actual work of issuing the
certificates; and request permission to open subagencies in certain
of the larger centers of Polish immigration in the United States at
which applications can be received.
You state that before replying to Mr. Paderewski you desire an expression of the views of
this Department regarding these Polish agencies.
This Department has no objection to the establishment of such
sub-agencies, nor to the issuing of the certificates referred to. I
note however that in the letter addressed to you by Mr. Paderewski under date of February
21, he makes the following statement:
I am happy to say that the British Government has also
recognized the National Polish Committee for the issue of
similar certificates on the grounds that Poles resident in
the United Kingdom are alien friends, and I am submitting a
summary of the British acknowledgement and declaration on
this subject.
- 1.
- Poles resident in the United Kingdom whether Russian,
German or Austrian subjects, are considered by the
British Government from henceforth as alien
friends.
- 2.
- The British Government accepts certificates given to
Poles by the National Polish Committee as officially
establishing that the holder is a Pole.
- 3.
- These certificates may be accepted in place of a
national passport in case of departure for abroad, after
they have been provided with the vise of the National
Polish Committee and with the authorization required by
the respective states.
- 4.
- The National Polish Committee has the right to certify
the signature of Poles who carry the certificates of the
National Polish Committee.
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If it is inferred from the foregoing quotation that it is the aim of
the Polish Committee to seek exemption from the statutory
classification of alien enemies, for persons who are to hold these
certificates of Polish nationality, I beg to inform you that the
classification of alien enemies is defined by Revised Statutes
section 4067 and cannot be altered without an act of Congress. I
have the honor to point out to you that the fact that I have no
objection to the establishment of the agencies referred to must not
be interpreted as an expression of opinion by me on the advisability
of excluding Poles from the classification of alien enemies.
Respectfully,
