HC Deb 27 January 1930 vol 234 cc597-8
29. Mr. HANNON

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that in the case of a woman of British citizenship marrying an American citizen she is bound to report her change of nationality to the local police; if the married lady desires to accompany her husband to the United States of America she is still regarded as a British subject and must secure a passport with a visa of an American consul; and if, through diplomatic channels, he can secure an arrangement with the United States of America by which a lady in such circumstances may accompany her husband as an American citizen or travel to join her husband in the ordinary way without the grant of a temporary passport by the Home Office?

Mr. A. HENDERSON

Any woman of British nationality marrying a United States citizen thereby ceases to be a British subject under the British Nationality and Status of Aliens Act of 1914 and becomes an alien, subject as such to the requirements of the Aliens Order, including registration with the police. Under United States law, however, an alien woman marrying a United States citizen does not thereby become a United States citizen. A British woman in such circumstances, therefore, becomes a stateless person and is not entitled to receive any national passport unless in the particular case she becomes a United States citizen by naturalisation. For the purpose of travelling to the United States, either with or without her husband, she is provided with a form of affidavit by the United States Consulate-General, to which a United States visa is affixed. I am afraid that, in view of the law in force in the United States, it would not be possible to request the United States Government to issue United States passports in cases of this sort.

Mr. HANNON

Does not this reveal a very anomalous state of affairs, and would not the right hon. Gentleman in these times, when such a kindly spirit exists between the two countries, use his influence to bring about an adjustment of this awkward and embarrassing relationship?

Mr. HENDERSON

Yes, it is quite anomalous, but we cannot cure in six months what the late Government failed to cure in four years.