Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-11-13
MILITARY SERVICE
TREATIES SOUGHT
United States Negotiates
With European Countries
to Settle Question.

Having concluded Q treaty with Nor
way governing the status and liability
for military service of persons Of dual
nationality, the United States is nego-
tiating with other European nations for
treaties of similar character in order
to clear up existing international com
plications on the subject. The Treaty
Just concluded with Norway Is designed
60 Ho~-r all questions concerning the
obligation for military and other ma
tional services Of persons born with the
nationality of both Norway and the
United States; that is, persons born IN
the United States Of Norwegian parents
and persons born in Norway of Arneri-
can parents. Under the new treaty
such q person cannot be called upon
for service In either country II he has
his personal residence in the other.
The principle article In the treaty
reads as follows:
"A person born in the territory Of
one party Of parents who are nationals
Of the other party, and having the ma
tionality OF both parties under their
laws, shall not, If he has his habitual
residence-that is, the place OF his
general abode-in the territory Of the
state of his birth, be held liable for
military service or any other act OF
allegiance during temporary stay In
the territory of the other party.
Provided, That If such stay is pro-
tracted beyond the period Of two years,
it shall be presumed to be permanent,
in the absence Of sufficient evidence
showing that return to the territory OF
the other party win take place within
q short time"
Many TrOubaesOme Cases.
IN past years many troublesome cases
have arisen in which persons born in
tn United States Of alien parents and
continuing to reside In this country, Is
well as persons Of foreign origin who
have acquired American nationality
through the process Of naturalization,
have been called upon to perform mill
tary service In foreign countries claim
ing them as nationals.
In the Joint resolution of Congress,
introduced by Representative Clyde
Kelly and approved by the President
Ma, %, 1928, the President was re-
with countries with which they had
not been previously concluded under
which American citizens having also
the nationality of other countries should
not BE held liable for military service
or any other act of allegiance during q
stay In the territory subject to the
jurisdiction of any such nation" Al
treaty covering cases Of Norwegians
natxlraliEed In the United States had
been concluded in 1869, shortly after
the conclusion Of the Bancroft treaties
with the various German states, but
there was no treaty governing cases OF
persons born in the United States Of
Norwegian parents.
Citizenship Defined.
Under the provisions Of the four
teenth amendment to the Constitution
all persons born in the United States
and subject to its jurisdiction are born
citizens Of the United States without
regard to the nationality Of their par
ents or the length Of their residence In
this country. Also under the act OF
Congress Of February 10. 1855, persons
born In foreign countries are citizens Of
the United States If their fathers have
that status and have resided for some
time In this country. Under the Nor
wegian nationality law Of August B,
1924, any person born to q Norwegian
father il born q Norwegian subject, re-
gardless Of the place Of birth. Under
the same law person who Is born in
Norway Of alien parents and who con-
tinueS to reside In Norway until he Is
20 years of age Is q Norwegian subject.
All other European countries have laws
under which their nationality is ac-
uuired at birth by descent, regardless Of
the place Of birth, and most Of them
also have laws under which birth in
their territory may confer their nation
atty upon fulhllment OF certain con@i-
tionS.