No. 316.
Mr. Frelinghuysen to Mr. Wurts.
Washington, June 20, 1884.
Sir: In reply to your No. 127 of the 22d ultimo, requesting to be advised whether an American citizen after becoming a Russian subject temporarily, can later on resume his American citizenship, I have to inform you that our statutes recognize the right of expatriation as inherent and dependent solely on the will of the individual.
An American citizen exercising that right, whatever be his motive, and acquiring a foreign allegiance by naturalization in due form, is thereafter to us as completely an alien as if he had never been a citizen of the United States.
If he should desire to resume his American status, the laws make no distinction between him and any other alien, and provide no process save naturalization.
I am, &c.,