File No. 19375/9.
The Secretary of State to Ambassador Kerens.
Washington, May 13, 1910.
Sir: The department has received the embassy’s No. 5 of April 20 last, relative to the military service and emigration laws of Hungary.
[Page 68]It appears from this dispatch that a Hungarian subject who has emigrated to the United States before performing military service is not considered a deserter unless he had actually joined the army.
It does not appear that the department has as yet received authoritative information as to the age at which a Hungarian subject is drafted at the time of conscription, and thus having become enrolled as a recruit for service in the standing army, as provided in Article II of the naturalization treaty of 1871.
The circular notice to American citizens formerly subjects of Austria or Hungary, who contemplate returning to either of those countries, issued by the department on December 9, 1909, contains the statement that all male subjects of Hungary are liable to the performance of military service between the ages of 17 and 42 years. This information was based on the statement in the embassy’s No. 998 of November 14, 1909, which, however, does not seem to be entirely authoritative.
In order that the department may be in a position to inform Hungarians who have emigrated before joining the army as to their liability to punishment under the treaty upon returning to Hungary, you will endeavor to secure authentic and definite information as to the age of enrollment in Hungary.
I am, etc.,