711.514/10
The Chargé in France (Armour) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 20.]
Sir: I have the honor to refer to the Department’s instruction No. 4089 of May 7, 1929 (file 711.514/9), requesting the Embassy to endeavor to obtain an agreement under which the French authorities will no longer require a certificate, stating that the law of the United States does not provide for obligatory military service, from persons born in the United States of French parents, since it would appear that a general statement to this effect by the Embassy should answer the purpose.
A note has now been received from the Ministry for Foreign Affairs under date of December 2, a copy and translation of which are enclosed herewith,23 stating that the Ministry of War does not consider the proposed general statement adequate since the Presidents of the Councils of Revision might one day lose sight of the declaration and the persons concerned would then irregularly be considered as deserters. The Foreign Office has agreed, however, to modify the decree in question so that the certificate may in future be obtained from the French representatives in foreign countries. A copy of the modified text will be sent to the Department as soon as it is received.24
I have [etc.]