711.594/4
The Secretary of State to the Minister in Denmark ( Dodge )
Sir: The Department has received your despatch No. 866 of May 23, 1929, in reply to its instruction of December 1, 1928,11 concerning the proposed treaty with Denmark in regard to military obligations in cases of persons who ate born in either country of parents having the nationality of the other, and who have the nationalities of both countries under the laws thereof.
It is noted that this matter has been referred to the Ministry of the Interior, for consideration, and that meantime the Minister for Foreign Affairs has assured you in his note of May 22, 1929, that in cases of persons of the class mentioned who visit Denmark temporarily “the Ministry for Foreign Affairs will be entirely disposed to use its influence with competent authorities with a view to obtaining their exemption from military service.” The Department is gratified by this assurance and commends you for your efforts in the matter.
It is to be hoped that the Danish Government will find it possible to enter into a formal agreement upon this subject, since such an agreement would tend to promote intercourse between the two countries. It does not seem reasonable that a person who was born in either country and has a permanent residence therein should be unable to visit the other for a temporary purpose without being arrested and detained for military service.
I am [etc.]
- See instruction No. 167, December 1, 1928, to the Ambassador in Belgium, Foreign Relations, 1928, vol. i, p. 497.↩