South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-06-15
7 TREATY
WITH BRITAIN
MADE PUBLIC
Contents OF Pact Removes
misunderstanding and Re-
veaIS Cause of Long De-
lay in Ratification.
international News Service

International News Service
WASHINGTON. June I5.-The
contents of the recently negotiated
draft treaty between the United
states and the British government
which is TO serve as a model for
similar conventions between all the
allied nations, came to light today,
removing many misunderstanding
which have arisen on the subject.
IL became known for the first time
that differences over the age limit
to te applied TO the Americans in
British territory were the chief
cause of the long delay in com
pleting negotiations. Heretofore, il
has generally been supposed that
the question OF Irish conscription
was holding up final action on the
treaty.
Under the terms of the treaty ali
Americans between the ages of is
ard 49 in British territory would be
made subject TO the draft. This pro-
vision constituted the chief reason
for the action Of the senate on
March 81 in returning the treaty
TO the state department for revision.
Exempt by Certificate.
The state department was una BILE
20 secure the removal Of this pro
vision from the treaty because OF
fear that it would involve still fur
TIER ceisy. However, in an exchange
Of noJes between Sec'y Of State
Lansing and Earl Reading. the Brit
ish am mbassador, on June 3, il was
agreed that the United States gov
ernment would exercise the right
10 exempt by diplomatic certificate
Americans in Great Britain outside
he draft age limit in the United
States.
As the treaty now stands no fur
ther change would be necessary to
provide for the drafting of all
Americans between the age of IS
and 40 should the United states
later decide TO adopt such limit
by amendment to the draft act.
Main Article of Treaty.
The main article i'm the treaty
provides:
'All male citizens Of the United
states in Great Britain and all male
British subjects i'm the United
States. shall unless before the time
limited by this convention they en-
list or enroll 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 20 military service and
entitled 10 exemption or discharge
therefrom under the laws and regu-
lations from time 10 time i'm force
OF the country in which they are:
Provided that in respect to Brit
ish subjects in the United States
the ages Of military service shall he
Tor the time being 20 to A years.
both inclusive:
Provided, however. that no citi-
zen of the United States i'm Great
Britain and no British subject in the
United States. who. before proceed
ing 20 Great Britain or the United
States respectively was ordinarily
resident IN a place in the possession
OF the United states or i'm His Majes-
tvs dominions. respectiVely. where
the law does impose mpulsory
military service shall, oy virtue Of
this convention. be liable 20 military
service under the laws and regu-
Iations of Great Britain or the
United states. respectively.
Provided. further that IN the
event Of compulsory military ser
vice being applied 10 amy part OF His
MaEesty's dominions i'm which mill
tary service at present is not COM
pulsory. British subjects. who. be-
fore proceeding 90 the United States
were ordinarily resident I'M such part
OF His Majectys dominions shall
thereupon be- included within the
terms OF this convention.