The Washington times., 1918-09-01
SWEDEN EXCITED
BYU. S. DRAFT Law
r., EDWIN BJoRI1nLAx.

Reports that neutral subjects are
forced TO serve in the American army,
hove caused considerable excitement
.-oroad. and especially in Sweden.
some Of this excitement has been
based on misinformation. Mostly 1t
has sprung from a eomplete misunder-
standing Of the situation over here.
When somewhat more than year
SEQ. this country began its prepara-
. tfDns for meeting German militarism
on its own grounds by the Congress
sional enactment OF draft aw, all
men Of military age (twenty-one TO
rhirty-onel wore required to register
regardless of their being American
uitizens or not. Such provision
&c clearly within the rights OF any
nation. and must not be construed as
an attempt to force military service
uIsoa foreigners. In Sweden, for inr
btaucc, every person, whether citizen
81 a foreigner, has to register.
< Taking IL all in all. the registration
caused by very little difficulty ths
great majority OF the foreigners with
in our borders understanding 1t by
reference to home conditions and obey
3Rg II ungrudgingly. The few exeep-
kions that occurred. were mostly
tfaceable TO syndicaiissic or pro-Ger-
Iaan agitation based on a compiete
instrumentation Of the objects un-
derlying he law.
Separate Class.
As the registration was followed by
the actdsl drafting OF eligible men
into the army, neutral aliens OF mill
tazy age were placed apart in q class
sly themselves leaving them outside
The workings of the law. In this con
Dection, however, there arose a differ
rnce Of opinion as to the proper dis
6incfion between foreign subjects ana
american citizens. In other words,
Sc had. and have, among US a class of
SAL standing halfway between those
ssao. owe no allegiance whatsoever to
lhis country and those who have
completely transferred their original
Allegiance TO the United States. These
tre the men who have taken their
-sfirst papers," but who have not yet
obtained their second" or final docu-
nicnts OF naturalization.
Under such circumstances it seemed
nfi.y just to those who framed our orig
ff!il measures Of military preparedness
II Al men who had readily forsvorn for
icn allegiance in order to obtain the
principal rights OF citizenship might
also be expected to accept the duties
IL -umbent on everyone having become
~ integral part OF the nation. In other
Words. men having obtained their "frst
isipsrs'' we're made subject to military
s.E1- :ce undo. the draft law.
From those Immediately concerned
fr,w protests were heard but again the
SsTsdes formed an exception. And l
kaN -, - fkar-
Ser. encouraged. IL not actually eEged
-, from abroad. The issue thus raised |
'tas taken up With considerable deter |
mir tiion by the Swedish government. /
IN. Z. Il must b, admitted. made out |
IN exc Il-nt f.;s. on the basis Of the /
old treaties b, ,ts'een Sweden and me |
81 I'd States. The legal correctness Of |
- eontcnsiorS sas granted at Wash |
ingson. and a w..!ie ago the draft Law
IS an-nle'l. By Congress in, manner
dss sned 20 meet III protests.
AElenenent 70 Law.
el-Hder q" ,..T as amended. Liability |
e military, sri ice st-H falls on men Of
T+iiits:-- 5:-c a no have fted their decla
i@tion 70 beConle American citizens. bu;
;.-eii hao.i't:- IAN he sc;ped BY with
faaw7l OF ti,z declaration. In other
,foi Is, "A SHcde 81 twcnty-tiye. say who
r. preyicasis obtained his first pa
lI5, need Only report TO the proper
sit."rltiss that ne wishes to return 10
Is original s;ajus rs 4 Swedish citi-
He is th,n automatically placed
I'D the FRO .sions Of the draft law.
fut II lie avsils himself Of this privi-
record of HE case is taken and
Ses. for future reference so that. If he
fic.--d ever again try 10 obtain Ameri-I
e-E 4 -t!zeIship II may be used against
Ef- Unlei an additional provision Of
draft lls 10 Inan WOO has escaped
e. N;ithdiSWai of has original dec
.,i'on OF intention can ever become
}: american Ciuzen