711.60h4/13

The Secretary of State to the Minister in Yugoslavia (Prince)

No. 199

Sir: The Department refers to the Legation’s despatch No. 542 of January 24, 1929, in reply to the Department’s instruction No. 165 of December 1, 1928, and previous correspondence regarding the proposed naturalization agreement between the United States and the Kingdom of the Serbs, Croats and Slovenes.

As indicated by note verbale No. 1329 of April 23, 1928, from the Foreign Office, in reply to the Legation’s aide-mémoire of March 15, 1928,66 the only objection raised by the Foreign Office in answer to the Legation’s inquiry for an expression of opinion as to the possibility of the conclusion of a naturalization treaty was that the then legislation of the Kingdom did not yet include an internal law concerning naturalization. As such a law was passed on September 21, 1928, the Legation might draw the attention of the Foreign Office to this fact and again enquire whether the Government is now in a position to express its views in regard to the conclusion of a naturalization treaty.

I am [etc.]

For the Secretary of State:
Wilbur J. Carr

[In despatch No. 675, November 1, 1929, the Minister reported that the possible effect of the law of September 21, 1928, on negotiations for the naturalization agreement had been brought to the attention of the Yugoslav Foreign Office on several occasions (711.60h4/16). The Department was informed by the Chargé in despatch No. 689, December 10, 1929, that a new law of September 23, 1929, regarding military service apparently represented the views of the Ministry of War, and conceded the most liberal treatment which that Ministry deemed possible to those Yugoslav subjects who had become naturalized in foreign countries (711.60h4/17). No treaty of the nature desired was concluded with Yugoslavia.]

  1. Neither printed.