130 Hagiperos, Vasilios
The Chargé in Greece (Shantz) to the Secretary of State
[Received October 6.]
Sir: I have the honor to refer to the Department’s instruction No. 257, dated January 16, 1936, (file No. 130 Hagiperos, Vasilios), concerning the practice on the part of Greek officials in compelling naturalized citizens of the United States who were born in Turkey of parents of the Greek race and who have been residing temporarily or sojourning in Greece, usually for the purpose of visiting relatives, to register as Greek subjects, under the provisions of Article 141 of Law 4324, before being allowed to leave Greece.
The Legation is now in receipt of a rather curt reply from the Hellenic Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the protest it was instructed to make against this practice. Copies of the Legation’s Note, No. 277/36 of June 8, 1936,28 and of the Ministry’s reply (in the original French and in English translation) dated August 20, 1936, are enclosed.
There is likewise enclosed herewith for the Department’s information a memorandum28 summarizing the pertinent provisions of the war treaties and Greek laws supporting, and thus explaining, the attitude of the Hellenic authorities in this matter. The memorandum was prepared by Consul Burton Y. Berry, who is in charge of the citizenship section of the Consulate General in Athens.
Respectfully yours,