The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1918-03-30
Irish Aliens Not
Sub jeet to Draft
Those Already Called Not to Be Re.
Ieased-America and Britain Enter
Into Reciprocal Arrangement to Ap.
ply Each Others Existing Laws On
Conscription.

MIR. David Lawrence, the Washing
ton correspondent of the New York
Evening Post, has the following in
Wednesdays Post:
Washington, March 49, Irishmen
living in the United States, but who
owe allegiance to Great Britain, will
not be drafted as will other British
nationals. This is the understanding
which has been reached between the
two governments to avoid the same
embarrassments here, which caused
England to eliminate Ireland from the
operation of her own eenacription act.
OF course, young Ifishmen who were
born in the United States or even
those whose Parents are of Irish birth
will be drafted as will other American
citizens. But Ir1shmen who have TAX
en- out their first papers and who al
ready have been drafted will not be
released because the policy of the
United States government is not to
be retroactive, but in the future even
the first-paper 1rishmen will not be
summoned into military service.
The Senate committee Oh Foreign
Relations has been considering the
treaties and has approved these provi-
sions by which the United States
agrees to follow British practice with
respect to British nationals domiciled
in this country, and England agrees
to follow American practice with re.
spect to Americans living abroad. This
means incidentally that British sub
ject between the ages of twenty.one
and forty can be drafted into the Am
erican army, since the British age
limits extend that far, but an Ameri-
can in Gueat Britain over the age of
thirty-one is exempt from service.
Such exemptions, as we'll as all 9TH
ers, Will be handled by the respective
Ambassadors of the two countries,
Ambassador Page in London, how
ever, will be guided by the instructions
sent him through the state department
from the Provost Marshal's Office.
To Apply Each Others Existing Law.
In principle, the United States apA
Great Britain have agreed really to
have each country apply for the other
existing law. But the subjects N self.
governing dominions of the British
Empire are not included, for instance.
citizens of Australia where the vol.
unteer system is in force will not
come under the provisions of the
treaty. There are so few Australians
In the United States that it was deem.
ed unnecessary to draft special con.
ventlon. But a special treaty has been
draWn, and is about to be ratified with
reference to Canadians living in the
United States They will be inducted
into our army under the same rules
and regulations as would apply to them
II they were at home in Canada. Most
OF these, however, are going to exer-
else their option of six months to on
nome and join regiments in Canada.
The Irish problem, however. has
oeen perplexing one. The treaty Of
course will not specifically exclude
[r1sh' for it is drawn in general terms.
BUT in the correspondence and ex.
changes OF notes it is apparent that
Nhile Great Britain would like the
Jhlted States to gather into our army
Is many subjects of the Entente p
i've here, no obligation rests upon II
ountry to induct Irishmen into
ervlce. In fact, many things, 4. Il
S the status of those who have ,us
ut their first papers, have bee ;ahe
lore or less to the discretion n Re
.merlcan government. Strictl of Il
lg, Great Britain could in spea
rst paper men be exemptef .sist til
oes not wish to disturb 1, but 81
onal regular army. In ar first II
owever, these men will the futu1
'pted for service unle' not be q
er. IS they Volt