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Mr. CAMPBELL. Surely. Before anyth all, their service in the foreign coun There is no question, gentlemen engaged in the military servic a citizen of that country, an tions as an American citizen possibility that that very co might get into trouble with u we could not get him, because The CHAIRMAN. Therefore t service?

Mr. CAMPBELL. Yes.

Mr. RAKER. That is the cru right when he enlists but, as M get into trouble with the country his service.

not g

Mr. CAMPBELL. Yes; and, therefore, there should be a termination of the service. But there certainly has been no law passed that gave a private citizen any doubt as to his right as an individual to dispose of his services as a soldier at any time outside of his own country.

Mr. WELTY. I know that when that neutrality law was framedand it was framed rather loosely-it was framed for the purpose of meeting a situation like this; that it would prevent a man from leaving our country and giving offense to one of the belligerents by engaging in the armies against them.

Mr. CAMPBELL. But it did not use language that expressed that view?

Mr. WELTY. No; it did not; and, as I say, it was very crudely framed; but I think that intent is there.

Mr. CAMPBELL. I really believe that the young men who enlisted abroad were very much amazed at the decisions made in these cases, and the very first case that arose was that of a young man who had finished his military service and, as a wise act of Providence, had written home and secured a good job, but under the alien-contract law he was excluded. That is the first case that arose under this law. Now, I thought that was a strange interpretation, and I did not think it was meant to apply to any such case, but still that was done. The man took an appeal and, I believe, was released.

(Thereupon the committee proceeded to the consideration of other

business.)

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