The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-06-15

4
Washington, June 15.-Detai1s Of a
treaty with Great Britain. which be-
came known today, disclosed that it
required a formal exchange of notes
between the United States and Great
Britain to settle questions relating to
application OF American draft age linn
its to Americans in Great Britain and
Canada.
The British military service acts.
which govern the operation of the
treaty. would make all Americans in
Great Britain or Canada between IS
and 40 liable to draft into the British
army. But in the notes, exchanged
by Lord Reading and Secretary Lans-
ing, it is agreed that the United States
may claim exemption for its citizens
under 81 and over 81.
Text of Principal Article4
The text Of Article One. the prin-
cipal article in the treaty, reads:
All male citizens Of the United
States in Great Britain and all male
British subjects in the United States,
shall, unless before the time limited
by this convention they, enlist. or en-
roll in the forces of their, own country
or return to the United States or Great
Britain, respectively. for the purpose
of military service, be subject to mill
tary service and entitled to exemption
or discharge therefrom under the laws
and regulations from time to time in
force, of the country in, which they
are. Provided, that in respect TO Brit
ish subjects in the United States the
ages for military servf"e shall be, for
the time being, 20 to A. years, both
inclusive; provided, however, that no
cifizen nf thu TTnifad IN,
Britain and no British subject in the
United States who before proceeding
to Great Britain or the United States,
respectively. was ordinarily esident in
United States or in His MajestJ's do
minions, respectively, where the law
does not impose compulsory military
service, shall, by virtue of. this con-
yention, be liable to military service
under the laws and regulations of
Great Britain or the United States, re-
spectively; provided further. that in
the event of compulsory military serv-
ice being applied to any part of His
Majesty's dominions in which military
service at present is not compulsory,
British subjects, who before proceed
lily resident in such part of His Males
tvs dominions shall. thereupon, be in
cluded within the terms of this con-
vention."
OllOWlnS are IHc nOU6S- c4CIdnSGQ
between Secretary Lansing and Am
bassador Reading. which determined
the application of the American age
limits to American citizens subject to
draft in Great Britain and Canada.
Readings Note.
with reference to the military con-
ventfen between the United States and
Great Britain, signed today, am in
structed by His Majesty's government
to explain why the proviso to Article
One does not limit the military service
of citizens Of the United States In
Great Britain to those of the ages
specified in the laws of the United
States. The reason for the omission
Of this clause in the proviso is a de-
sire to avoid the delay that would be
involved in modifying the military
service acts of 1915 to 1918 which
control the operation of any conven-
ton of this character. beg you,
press this proposal. The effect of these
acts is to make United States citizens
in Great Britain under this convention
liable to military service between the
ages of eighteen and forty-nine in
| elusive. The Limitation of the ages OF
United States citizens in Great Bri-
tain for the purpose of military serv-
ice to those prescribed fn-the laws OF
the United States may. however, be
| attained without amendment Of these
dClS ny cNeTCISe by tne united states
| of its rights of exemption under Arti-
| Gle Three. His Majesty's government
| understand, therefore, that the United
States government will exercise their
| right to exempt from compulsory serv-
| ice all citizens Of the United States in
Great Britain outside the ages speci-
fled in the laws of the United States
prescribing compulsory military
service"
Lansfng's Reply.
To which Lansing replied in part:
Il have the honor to inform your
eXce1lency that the government of the
United States is pleased to accept this
explanation of Article One and in lieu
| of clause in this article limiting the
military service of citizens of the
United States in Great Britain to those
of the ages specified in the laws of
the United States prescribing military
service, to exercise its rights under
Article Three to exempt all citizens
of the United States in Great Britain
outside Of the ages specified in the
| laws of the United States"
| Exemption Rights Article.
! Article Three Of the treaty. upon
which hinges thu question of exemp-
ton rights, follows.
| The government of the United
States and His Britannia Majesty, may
thru their respective Diplomatic rep