The times., 1897-11-12
MILITARY SERVICE IN FRANCE.
Naturalized Cstlzens of Amerloa Not
Exempt From Service.

Naturalized C4tiz-ns of America Not
Exempt From Service.
The STATE Department is in receipt Of a
report from H. yignaud, secretary of the
American embassy at Paris, relating 70
military ana nationality laws as applied TO
French a uerican citiZeHs The follow
iug extracts are interesting:
An article In the civil code OF the
law 70 the eIfecC that ttencifiildn
uatufdliZed abroad does not cease 10 De
FIeucn il he Is stin SUBJECT To IniItary
service in the active army, unless MS
naturalization was oDIatned with the
consent OF the French government. IL
has Always Deen uncertain whether tue
Iiss appheu 10 those VINO nad lalIed 70
tllscilaiSg Gneif Inllltary oDliSaJious beiOfe
the was passed or simply 10 those
VINO nau committed Cnau oIfense arter tile
law was enacted, nor has IL been clear
~ 10 WnaI is meant Oy the active army
The period OF service there Is only Tor
three years, but from tits army every
tIenchiuan passes Ifst into the reserve
Tor seven years, and then into the terri
torial army. IL Was hot known Whelher
tue law applied 10 the INST three gears
OF 10 the whole uIfne during whDch nllIitdry
services were due, botn IN the dctlNe army
and the reserve. These points have now,
las rulings OF the French government, been
thus explained.
me law mas retroactive effect, 1t
appAeS TO those who nave avoided nuhtafy
service aud acquired other nationality
before as We'll as after The law was enacted.
The words active army" mean Doth the
active and the reserve OF the active army,
and the expression If he is still subject
To military service applies TO the GATE
Oh wniCn the naturalization was obtdiheu,
Thus, a Erenchnan naouraIlzeu aDIoau
without the consent of ms government, II,
at the date of his naIuraiiZatlon ne -
still subject to military service in the
acJive army or reserve, > aiuenaDIe 10 tue
military laws. II ne Goes lot respond 70
the notice calling hiuI 10 service he is
charged with 'insOuunission' tuon-coihph.
auce with the military law, ana II found
within the jurisdiction OF France what
ever his age may be, ana no matter how
long he has lived abroad, even II ne leIt
France when baby, or was Dorn ABROAD,
il his father was French at the time, ne
is arrested as an .lnsouIniS' and enrolled
in The active army, the reserve or the ter
rij0riai army, according TO his age.
AFTER q Frenchman has been transferred
To the territorial army he does not need
the consent Of his government 10 be natur-
alized abroad; ana when naturaiZed in
the United states under such conditions
an application through the embassy in
Paris secures recognition OF ms American
citizenship Naturalization papers must
accompany such an Application AppliCd-
Cons Tor change of citizenship during the
age - hen 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 Tor
service in the territorial army, although
tneir naturalization may nave taken pa e
whiie Stin belonging 10 the active army.
Appca Jiuns of Lnis sort should be made
uirsCo 10 the minister of Justice by the in
terested parties, accompanied by zee of
6Io francs tSl30-21 aud a detailed state
nent. When granted the name of the ap-
plicant IS erased from the fuiIitar lists. II
is tile rule of the embassy 20 decline max
ing applications OF this kind in behalf OF
those wno are already in possession Of
their fail American papers OF naCuraliZa-
tian. but [ does not refuse its good offices
OF tnoSe no desire To secure the consent
of their government before having been
naturaliZed.