Officials of the State Department today confirmed that many Jews in Palestine who are naturalized Americans will lose their American citizenship if they do not return to the United States to confirm their status as required by the Nationality Act of 1940.
It was pointed out that of the more than 6,000 American Jews in Palestine, some 3,000 have failed to register with the American Consulate there. It is known that the State Department is fearful that in case of emergency in Palestine, in which an attempt would be made to evacuate American citizens, those who have not registered would find themselves in serious straits.
Officials of the State Department also estimated that of the 3,000 American Jews in Palestine who have registered with American Consul, the registrations of more than 1,500 have expired, or there was some doubt as to their citizenship claims. No formal notice of the threatened loss of citizenship will be sent to naturalized Americans living abroad, an official of the State Department explained, but those who keep in touch with the American consulates will be notified.
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