U.S.A. CITIZENSHIP

Hokitika Guardian, 27 May 1931, Page 5

U.S.A. CITIZENSHIP

WAR AS TEST.

{United JPrfisa Association —By Electric Telegraph—Copyright!.

WASHINGTON, May 25As a climax to the long attempt by Dr. Douglas Macintosh, a British subject, ot' Canada, and a former chaplain with the Canadian and American Armies, and now a Professor of Theology at Yale University, to obtain the right of citizenship of the United States, the Supreme Court has render, ed its decision that he is ineligible. His ineligibility is due to his preference to bear arms tor his country only in what is considered to be a “just war.” His case has aroused international interest from many angles, among which was the question oi "whether the Court would render a decision involving “freedom of thought'.’ in which the forced bearing of arms by conscientious objectors might be sanctioned.

Representatives of the Quaker Church and a group of Episcopal church bishops intervened in the case, but the Coprt held that no question of religious and war scruples entered into the discussion.

The Supremo Court asserted that I)r. Macintosh was ineligible, since a citizen must support Ills country as it may be necessary to do, and not as he )nay desire. However, Chief Justice Hughes submitted a dissenting opinion, in which lie. stated that the Professor’s reservations were in accord with a stand taken . time and time again by statesmen, here ,and abroad. The United States Supreme Court, 3iad at the time, refused to grant citizenship to a former British Army nurse, Miss- Marie Bland, who said that she was willing to bear arms, although she would do whatever else was necessary to aid the Army. Rev. Dr. Macintosh, when informed ofi the Court’s decision, stated :—“I am not budging from my stand one hit and I will make no further attempt to obtain citizenship if my viewpoint is unacceptable.”