This is аn appeal from an order and judgment of the lower court denying appellant’s application for naturalization and dismissing Lis petitiоn.
Petitioner was bom in London, England, June 301,1890. He entered the United States at Detroit, Mich., June 20', 1916>. On March 16, 1926, he filed his declaration of intention to becоme a citizen of the United States in the superior court of Fairfield county, Conn., and on June 14,1932, he filed his petition for naturalization in the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota. That court, after hearing, denied the application because it was unable to find affirmatively that thе applicant was attached to the principles of the Constitution, or that he was willing to take the prescribed oath without qualification or reservation. This conclusion of the court is based-upon petitioner’s refusal definitely to state that if necessary he was willing to tаke up arms in defense of this country.
In the preliminary form for petition for naturalization, the following questions, among others, appear:
“23*. Hаve you read the following oath of allegiance (which is then quoted) ? And are you willing to take this oath in becoming a citizen?
“24. If necessary, are you willing to take up arms in defense of this country?”
In answer to question 23, he answered, “Yes.” In answer to question 24, he answered, “As per Paris Pact (please see explanation attached).” The explanation attached reads as follows: “In order that no* question may arisе concerning the Oath of Allegiance, I add this explanatory word. I am conscientiously opposed to war as a method of settling intеrnational controversies. I understand that, since the Kellogg Peace Treaty (the Pact of Paris) came into effect as international law, one’s allegiance to the Constitution is not prejudiced by his unwilling-. ness to accept a hypothetical obligation in regard to the now delegalized institution of war. In the Pact of Paris, which was negotiated by our Government, and proclaimed by President Hoover on July 24,192S; the United Stаtes, jointly with other nations of the world, condemned recourse to war, renounced war as an instrument of national policy, and agreеd never to seek the settlement or solution of any international dispute or conflict except by pacific means. I fully approve and support the Kellogg Peace Treaty, the object of whieh was officially stated by Secretary Kellogg when he declared that ‘the United States desires to see the institution of war abolished,’ and offered to conclude this treaty for that purpose. I understand that, under the Constitution, this Treaty is now part of the supreme law of the land. As a conscientious objector to war I believe that I am patriotiсally in accord with the Constitution, and I promise to defend it against all enemies.”
Later, petitioner amended this statement by substituting for the last sentеnce the following sentence: “I am patriotically in accord with the Constitution and I promise to defend it against all enemies,” thereby abandoning the statement that he was a conscientious objector to* war.
Upon the hearing, he was interrogated by the presiding judge as fоllows:
“Q. Have you any objection to my asking you some further questions supplementary to those that have heretofore been asked оf you by the Naturalization Official? A. No, sir.
“Q. I should like, in so far as you can, to have you first answer the questions by ‘yes,’ or ‘no,’ and then if you desire you may make such elaboration on your answers as you see fit. Is it your view that the Constitution has been modified by the Pact of Paris? A. *739 The statutory requirements for nаturalization have been modified by the Pact of Paris.
“Q. Do you believe irrespective of the stress or necessity existing you would possess the right if admitted to citizenship to withhold from the Government military service when your best judgment suggested you so do? A. I can’t anticipate that situation, Your Hоnor. We are dealing with the term ‘military service’, naturally an institution which is now outlawed.
“Q. Assuming that this Government observes all provisions of the Pact of Paris and assuming further some other nation does otherwise and in fact by armed force attacks this country, under such circumstances would you beаr arms if called upon so to do ? A. I believe that allegiance to and support of the Constitution and laws of the United States demands I do not anticipate that other signatories to that Pact with the United States will break their word any more than I anticipate the United States will breаk its word.
“Q. I would gather in the light of the answers which you have given that the position heretofore taken by you in the first instance in answer to Question 24, and аs thereafter expressed in the two briefs which you filed with me, is maintained by you at this time? A. Yes, sir.”
Considering petitioner’s written explanation, and his answers tо the interrogatories propounded by the trial judge, the lower court was warranted in concluding that he would not take up arms in defense оf this country if necessity therefor arose.
It is argued by counsel for appellant that: “Nowhere, does petitioner make the statemеnt that he would be unwilling to bear arms under any circumstances. That is an unwarranted assumption on the part of the government.” The burden of proof, however, was upon petitioner, and it seems perfectly clear that he not only avoided stating affirmatively that he would take up arms in defense of this country, but he must have understood that the court must inevitably conclude from his entire examination, especially in view of the statement made in his first written explanation that he was a “conscientious objector to war1,” that he would not, even though necessity arose, take up arms in defense of this country.
It is the province of Congress to prescribe the conditions upon which the privilege of citizenship may be granted. The Supreme Court of the United States, in United States v. Schwimmer.
“That it is the duty of citizens by force of arms to defend our government agаinst all enemies whenever necessity arises is a fundamental principle of the Constitution.
“The eommon defense was one of the purрoses for which the people ordained and established the Constitution. * * * We need not refer to the numerous statutes that contemplatе defense of the United States, its Constitution and laws, by armed citizens.”
The doctrine of this ease was reaffirmed by the Supreme Court in United States v. Maсintosh,
We are of the view that the instant ease is ruled by United States v. Macintosh and United States v. Sehwimmer, supra; and the order appealed from is therefore affirmed.