Monthly payments of a very small part of the amount due by the
Government of Venezuela to citizens of the United States on account of
claims of the latter against that Government continue to be made with
reasonable punctuality. That Government has proposed to change the
system which it has hitherto pursued in this respect by issuing bonds
for part of the amount of the several claims. The proposition, however,
could not, it is supposed, properly be accepted, at least without the
consent of the holders of certificates of the indebtedness of Venezuela.
These are so much dispersed that it would be difficult, if not
impossible, to ascertain their disposition on the subject.
In former messages I have called the attention of Congress to the
necessity of legislation with regard to fraudulent naturalization and to
the subject of expatriation and the election of nationality.
The numbers of persons of foreign birth seeking a home in the United
States, the ease and facility with which the honest emigrant may, after
the lapse of a reasonable time, become possessed of all the privileges
of citizenship of the United States, and the frequent occasions which
induce such adopted citizens to return to the country of their birth
render the subject of naturalization and the safeguards which experience
has proved necessary for the protection of the honest naturalized
citizen of paramount importance.
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