Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-11-11
FOREIGNERS RIGHTS
Naturalization Does Not Excuse French
man From Military Service at Home.
Consent of His Government Must BE
Obtaincd-American Citizen
ship I'm Peril.

Mr.. Vignaud. secretary of the United
States embassy at Paris. has made re-
port to the State Department in regard TO
French military and nationality laws as APP
piled to American citizens of French origin.
IAN article in the civil code of the French
law he says, lis to the effect that
Frenchman naturaliZed abroad does not
cease to be French IL he is still subject TO
military service in the active army, I'M
less his naturalization was obtained with
the consent of the French government. Ii
has always been uncertain whether the
law applied to those who had failed 10
discharge their military obligations be-
fore the law was passed or simply to those
who had con mitted that cffense after the
law was enacted: ror has 1t been clear
as to what is meant by the active army
The period of service there is only Tor
three years, but from this army every
Frenchnan passes first into the reserve
for seven years and Their into the terri
torial army. 1t was not known whether
the law applied to the first three years
or to the whole time during which mill
tary services were due, both IN the ac-
tive army and the reserve. THESE points
have now, by rulings of the French govern
ment, been thus explained:
1.-The law has retroactive effect; II
applies to those who have avoided mill
tary service and acquired other nationality
before as well as after the law was en-
acted. The words active army mean
both the active and the reserve of the ac-
tive army, and the expression If he is s;ill
subject to military service applies to the
date on which the naturalization was OBJ
tanned.
without the consent of his government, il.
at the date CT his naturalization, he Is
still subject to military service in the
active army or reserve. is amenable to the
ND m
the notice calling him to service he is
charged with 'insoumission' (non-compli-
ance with the military law). and IL found
within the Jurisdiction of France what
ever his age may be. and no matter how
long he has lived abroad, even IL he left
France when baby. or was born abroad,
il his father was French at the time, he
is arrested as an 'insoumis' and enrolled
in the active army, the reserve, or the ter
ritorial army, according to his age.
After a Frenchman has been transferred
to the territorial army he does not need
the consent of his government to be natur-
allied abroad; and when naturaliZed in
the United States under such conditions
an application through the embassy in
Paris secures recognition Of his American
citizenship. Naturalization papers must
accompany such an application. Applica-
lions for change of citizenship during the
age when active military service is due
are practically never granted; but consent
is usually given to those who, having
passed the age of service in the active
army and reserve, can only be called for
service in the territorial army, although
their naturalization may have taken place
while still belonging to the active army.
Applications of this sort should be made
direct 20 the minister of justice by the in
terested parties, accompanied by a fee of
Cts francs (s130.2O and a detailed state
ment When granted the name of the APP
plicant is erased from the military lists. 1t
is the rule of the embassy to decline max
ing applications of this kind in behalf of
those who are already in possession of
their full American papers of naturaliza-
ton: but it does not refuse its good Offices
to those who desire to secure the consent
of their government before having been
naturaliZed.''