File No. 763.72115/3170
The British Ambassador ( Spring Rice) to the Secretary of State
Memorandum
On July 18 the chairman of the United States Immigration Board of Montreal informed the Registrar of Alien Enemies in that city that the United States authorities at present refuse to acknowledge [Page 216] any naturalised British subject of German birth as a British subject, but treat them as alien enemies.
It is suggested that an arrangement might be made whereby the Canadian authorities should similarly view German subjects naturalised in the United States as alien enemies. The present practice whereby a naturalised United States citizen of German origin is treated exactly the same as the born United States citizen, has given rise to very considerable trouble in Canada. These persons, who are now free to cross and recross the frontier at their pleasure, include many labour agitators with whom it is exceedingly difficult to deal. In fact the protection afforded to such people by their United States naturalisation papers constitutes a serious menace to the welfare of the Dominion and the vigorous prosecution of the war in which both the United States and the British Empire are engaged. It will of course be remembered also that the German Government does not recognise the naturalisation papers of a born German subject, once the holder of those papers returns to Germany; and that such persons become automatically repatriated as German subjects as soon as they return within the confines of the German Empire.
The Canadian Government are anxious before taking any action in the matter to ascertain (a) whether the information conveyed to the Registrar of Alien Enemies in Montreal embodies the practice of the United States Government, and, if so, (b) whether the United States Government would see any objection to the Canadian Government regarding Germans naturalised in the United States as alien enemies. An arrangement of the kind suggested would undoubtedly simplify to a great extent many difficult problems with which the Dominion Government is now confronted.
[Received August 2]