711.60p4/8
The Chargé in Latvia (Gallman) to the Secretary of
State
No. 378
Riga, July 5, 1934.
[Received July
18.]
Sir: With reference to the Legation’s
despatch No. 349, dated June 13, 1934, concerning the present status
of negotiations for a treaty of naturalization and military service,
I have the honor to enclose herewith a copy of a note from the
Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs dated June 28, 1934.
In this note the Ministry states that the Government of Latvia
regrets that it is unable to accept the proposal contained in the
Legation’s note of January 7, 1929.
[Page 619]
The Legation’s note of January 7, 1929, contains the observations
appearing in the Department’s instruction No. 584, dated December 1,
1928, and with it the draft treaty which accompanied this
instruction was enclosed as reported in the Legation’s despatch No.
6220 of June 18, 1929.
In the enclosed note from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs it is
stated that the point of view of the Government of Latvia was
expressed in paragraphs II–V, section three, of its note of
September 21, 1933. A copy of this note was forwarded with the
Legation’s despatch No. 1628, dated September 28, 1933.13
Respectfully yours,
[Enclosure]
The Latvian Ministry for
Foreign Affairs to the American
Legation
No. J.3.19/34 17210
In reply to the note of the Legation of the United States of
America No. 57, dated May 31, 193413 and to the foregoing correspondence
bearing on the matter, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has the
honour to inform the Legation as follows.
The Latvian Government regrets not being able to accept the
proposal contained in the note of the American Legation, dated
January 7th, 1929, and to conclude the treaty of naturalization
between Latvia and the United States of America in conformity
with the presented draft. The reason of this attitude of the
Latvian Government is the following.
The acceptance of the proposed text of the treaty by the Latvian
Republic would necessarily involve a modification of the
principal clauses of the Latvian Law on Nationality and also of
the Military Service Law. Considering, however, the geographical
situation of Latvia and the peculiarities of its legislation
which entails compulsory military service, such modifications of
the above laws cannot be consented to by the Latvian
Government.
The point of view of the Latvian Government in the respective
question has already been exposed in the paragraphs II–V of the
3rd section of the note verbale of the
Ministry for Foreign Affairs to the American Legation No.
J.l.25/33/21233, dated September 21, 1933.
The Ministry begs to draw the Legation’s attention to the
principles laid down in the last mentioned note that hold good,
as regards the point of view of the Latvian Government, also at
present.
