4449043 1928.
HOME OFFICE,
WHITEHALL.
4th June, 1928.
5
sir,
With reference to your note (E. & 0.183528 of the 29th
March and to your letter (E. & 0. 2345/28) of the 18th Apri 1
and to their respective, enclosures regarding the application
of Mr. G. L. Rode, a Norwegian subject, for the grant of a
certificate of naturalization under the British Nationality
and Status of Aliens Act, 1914, I am directed by Secretary
Sir William Joynson-Hicks to request you to inform Secretary
the Earl of Birkenhead that since by reason of the nature
of their occupation alien members of the dercantile Marine
are unable to comply by physical presence with the statutory
requirements as to residence laid down in section 2 of the
Act in order to become eligible to apply for naturalization,'
it is the practice in the United Kingdom to regard absens e
from this country by reason of service in a British ship as
not inconsistent with the essential continuity of residence
ashore, provided that the applicant can satisfy the Secretary
of state that he is established, e.g. by substantial résideno
here, in this country. The enclosed memorandum indicates the
policy and practice of this Department in such cases.
2.
Sir William Joynson-Hicks observes that the Government
of India in their letter of the 1st March express the opinions
that a British ship is not British "territory" for the
The Under Secretary of State,
INDIA OFFICE.
purposes