Representative Ford. Would it have automatically disqualified him for renewal or the issuance of a new passport?
Mr. Snyder. No, sir.
Representative Ford. Not under the law or the regulations?
Mr. Snyder. Not to the best of my knowledge. In other words, what he says, to my knowledge, is immaterial to a finding of his loss of nationality. It is the act which counts.
Mr. Coleman. I don't think that is quite the Congressman's question. His question is if he had actually naturalized himself, could he be entitled to get an American passport?
Mr. Snyder. Oh, no; of course, if he had committed the act of accepting naturalization in a foreign state, he could not have. He would have lost his American citizenship.
Representative Ford. But limiting your knowledge to what he said in this paragraph, this in and of itself would have precluded either the issuance of a new passport or renewal?
Mr. Snyder. No; I don't think we can say that, Mr. Ford, because no matter what he says in there, this does not affect his right—does not affect his American citizenship. It is the determination of facts which determines it. And the only thing this does, really—well, the first thing it does is to alert the consular officer to start asking him some questions.
The Chairman. Gentlemen, I have a call from the Court. I must go over there now. We have the Court conference at 2 o'clock. Will someone be here to preside at 2 o'clock?
Representative Ford. Mr. Chairman, I have to leave, too. We have a quorum call over on the floor of the House. I can be back at 2. But I do have to leave at the present time.