File No. 763.72115/3412a
The Secretary of State to the Attorney General ( Gregory)
Sir: I have the honor to transmit herewith a copy of a statement which I issued on the 3d of September, in which the Government of the United States formally recognizes that a state of belligerency exists between the Czecho-Slovaks as organized in the Czecho-Slovak National Council and the German and Austro-Hungarian Empires; and also formally recognizes the Czecho-Slovak National Council as a “de facto belligerent government clothed with proper authority to direct the military and political affairs of the Czecho-Slovaks.”1
Furthermore, the Government of the United States declares that it is prepared to enter formally into relations with the de facto government thus recognized for the purpose of prosecuting the war against the common enemy, the Empires of Germany and Austria-Hungary.
I desire to bring these facts to your attention for the purpose of arranging that the Czecho-Slovaks in the United States who have not become naturalized as American citizens, although previously residents of territory forming a part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and subjects of that Empire coming within the classification of alien enemy under Revised Statutes, section 4067, may now receive as nearly as possible the same consideration from your Department as citizens of a government associated with the United States in the war.
I should be pleased to be advised as to what may be done in this respect in order that the policy of the Government, as indicated by its recognition of the de facto belligerency of the Czecho-Slovak National Council, may be carried out fully and in good faith.
I have [etc.]