The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1918-02-13
DRAFT TREATY PLAN
WITH BRITAIN MADE
Work of Convention Awaits
Senate's Approval and
Executives Signatures
AN ADJUSTMENT lIaH.
OF UNFAIRNESS
Military Service Regulations Soon to Be
in Effect Here and in England-Men
Are the Overwhelming Need on the
Western Front.


NEW YORK, Feb 13.-An adjust
ment of the unfairnesS that has been
part of the military service regulations
of the British Empire and the United
States because of the automatic exemp-
ton of aliens is attempted in a conven-
ton between the two governments
which has been drawn at Washington.
An outline of the convention was given
by Major Mitchell Innes, X. c., legal
adviser to the British embassy, while
at the office Of the British and Cana
dian recruiting mission at 5lI Fifth
avenue.
The convention in its final form
awaits the approval of the senate and
the signature of President Wilson and
King George. The carrying out of its
provisions will make necessary another
military registration day III this coun-
tn for British aliens between the ages
OF 20 and p and between 81 and fl.
The drawing of the convention in
volyed many delicate points. The ques
tion Of the age limit was perplexing
because while the United States has
been choosing men between the ages of
, and 3 in England thealimit has been
from Is to IL; in Canada 20 to 10.
The scheme of the convention, as ex
planned by Major innes, is to bring the
citizens of one country residing in the
other within compulsory service regula
tions, but under the conditions 40 far as
these can be adjusted that obtain IN
their own countries. In the United
States Britishers and Canadians will be
subject to the selective draft regula-
tions with the age limit extended down
to 20 wears and up To fl In England
and British colonies citizens OF the
United States will be subject to mill
tary service regulations between the
Irish aliens in America will be a matter
for determination by this government
The enforcement of the convention
will be IN the hands of the local author
tiles. In the United States this author
Ity is the divisional or district draft
board These boards now have the
records Of aliens between the ages of
p and 81, as acquired on June : last
Another registration day will be neces-
sary to obtain the names of men within
the age limits as extended The draft
law must be adjusted to provide for
this by congress after the convention
has been ratified British aliens already
exempted viii be recalled by the
boards
The convention contains provision
by which aliens affected by it's terms
may offer themselves for service for 80
days after the convention is ratified
1t is III this provision the British GOV
eminent places its hope for q substan-
tai addition to its fighting forces in
time for the summer campaign. Men
who volunteer NAV select either the
British or the Canadian army and will
be put into training immediately. Men
who wait to be drafted will not be
available this year. The mere exchanges
necessary to the ratification of the
treaty will take more than a month
Britlshers in authority are not afraid
OF the comfort that may be given to
Germany by admission of the urgent
need Of fighting men,
Men are the overwhelming need on
the western 'front.' said Major Innes.
The Cmted States has its hands full
IN training the men that have been
drafted. Il Is impossible for your GOV
eminent to deal Immediately with the
large number of aliens that are brought
within the Selective draft law bv this
convention. Men who wish to serve
the allies best will enlist for service in
the British or Canadian armies. Then
they will be ready for service in one
| fourth the time If will ia la IN fro; >,