PRESIDENT ISSUES PROCLAMATION REGULATING ALIEN ENEMIES
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) One hundred years ago, November 16, 1917, President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation regulating alien enemies of the United States. The proclamation first acknowledged the state of war between Germany and the United States effective April 6, 1917.
By Section 4067 of the Revised Statutes, "natives, citizens...or subjects of the hostile nation, being males...14 years and upwards, who shall be within the U.S. and not...naturalized, shall be liable to be apprehended, restrained, secured and removed as alien enemies."
By his proclamation of the 16th of November, President Wilson added the following regulations..."for the public safety."
--An alien enemy shall not be within 100 yards of any canal, wharf, pier or dock used by vessels over 500 tons engaged in...trade.
--The Attorney General may exclude alien enemies from warehouses, elevator or railroad depots, yards or terminals.
--Enemy aliens may not be found on any ocean, bay or river.
--No alien enemy shall ascend into the air nor found within the District of Columbia or the Panama Canal Zone.
--Enemy aliens must register with the Attorney General.
The proclamation was signed by President Woodrow Wilson and Acting Secretary of State Frank L. Polk*.
*Frank Lyon Polk (1871-1943) was born in NYC & educated at Yale & Columbia Law School. FLP was the grandson of Confederate general Leonidas Polk. He headed the American Peace Commission in 1919.
SOURCE
"Presidential Proclamation of November 16, 1917," A Mead Project source page, www.brocku.ca/
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) One hundred years ago, November 16, 1917, President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation regulating alien enemies of the United States. The proclamation first acknowledged the state of war between Germany and the United States effective April 6, 1917.
By Section 4067 of the Revised Statutes, "natives, citizens...or subjects of the hostile nation, being males...14 years and upwards, who shall be within the U.S. and not...naturalized, shall be liable to be apprehended, restrained, secured and removed as alien enemies."
By his proclamation of the 16th of November, President Wilson added the following regulations..."for the public safety."
--An alien enemy shall not be within 100 yards of any canal, wharf, pier or dock used by vessels over 500 tons engaged in...trade.
--The Attorney General may exclude alien enemies from warehouses, elevator or railroad depots, yards or terminals.
--Enemy aliens may not be found on any ocean, bay or river.
--No alien enemy shall ascend into the air nor found within the District of Columbia or the Panama Canal Zone.
--Enemy aliens must register with the Attorney General.
The proclamation was signed by President Woodrow Wilson and Acting Secretary of State Frank L. Polk*.
*Frank Lyon Polk (1871-1943) was born in NYC & educated at Yale & Columbia Law School. FLP was the grandson of Confederate general Leonidas Polk. He headed the American Peace Commission in 1919.
SOURCE
"Presidential Proclamation of November 16, 1917," A Mead Project source page, www.brocku.ca/
President Wilson
Harris & Ewing (1919)
Library of Congress Photo
