711.672/93: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Special Mission at Lausanne
194. In reply to Mission’s 441 of June 20. American citizens in Turkey and Ottoman subjects in the United States become, upon naturalization, aliens in the countries of their birth. First paragraph of proposed article on naturalization admits this principle.
The Government of the United States holds the view that the right to exclude aliens whenever their presence is deemed dangerous to peace and security is inherent in every sovereign state, and that unless the right has been renounced by treaty it is unnecessary to affirm it by express treaty reservation. This Government does not wish to assent to any treaty provision which might be construed to imply that reservation in a treaty is the sole basis of such right in a sovereign state.
Naturalized citizens are discouraged by the laws of the United States from returning for permanent residence in the countries of their origin. If within five years after naturalization in the United States a naturalized citizen returns for permanent residence in country of birth, cancellation of naturalization is provided for in act of June 29, 1906,81 section 15. By the act of March 2, 1907,82 it is provided that he is presumed to be no longer an American citizen when he has resided two years in the country of his birth.
The above information and the views of this Government should be communicated orally to the Turkish representatives, and an attempt should be made to obtain their assent to an article on naturalization omitting reservation.
It is the opinion of the Department that the treaty would not be acceptable in this country if it carried a provision of the sort proposed by the Turks.