[wJswn5l3]

Apparently yes.

http://arabamericanhistory.org/archi...llow-race.html

The following article was published in the Los Angeles Herald, November 5, 1909:
"Assured, temporarily at least, that the mantle of citizenship placed on their shoulders by Uncle Sam’s naturalization officers will not be removed, 17,000 Syrians scattered throughout the length and breadth of the land will breathe easier when they hear of the decision rendered yesterday by Judge Hutton of the superior court, to whom the first challenge to reach the test stage was submitted a month ago. Judge Hutton holds that Syrians are eligible to citizenship, and if a different construction is to be placed on the meaning of the law it is for Congress to so declare. The test case was made on the application of George Shishim of Venice, Los Angeles County, California, for citizenship papers by Fred Jones, naturalization examiner, who, acting in accordance with instructions from Washington, opposed the application on the ground that Syrians belonged to the Mongolian race and should therefore be excluded. Judge Hutton’s decision, which has been eagerly watched for in all parts of the country, was as follows:

‘This is an application by one George Shishim, a Syrian, to be admitted to citizenship. The federal government, acting through the department of justice, objects to his admission, basing its objection on the sole ground that he is not a member of the white race in contemplation of section 2169 of the revised statutes of the United States.

‘The court has listened to arguments of counsel representing the Department of Justice and counsel representing applicant and various friends of the cause who have appeared in the case, and has read their briefs with much care and great interest. If this were a new question, I might agree with the government, but as it is by no means new. I am convinced that this court would not be justified in resolving a question of such doubtful construction contradictory to the rulings of other courts throughout the United States that have for many years admitted to full citizenship thousands of Syrians in the same position as applicant at bar. The courts of this nation, both state and federal, have, whenever called upon for more than a century, construed the term "white persons," or members of the white race, to include Syrians. If at this late date a different construction is to be placed upon the meaning of this very doubtful statute Congress should so declare. The objection of the government is therefore overruled.’

"Shishim, with his attorney, Byron Hanna, and a number of Syrian friends were in the courtroom when the decision was read. He had already shown himself qualified for citizenship in other respects and the oath of allegiance was administered. So yeah Arabs were white and had citizenship rights, which were validated in that 1909 court ruling, which did not seek to contradict previous case law.