FRANCE LIABILITY TO FRENCH MILITARY SERVICE OF NATURALIZED AMERICAN CITIZENS OF FRENCH ORIGIN AND OF AMERICANBORN CHILDREN OF FRENCH PARENTAGE1 File No. 351.117/68 No. 1853 Ambassador Sharp to the Secretary of State AMERICAN EMBASSY, Paris, January 11, 1916. SIR: I have the honor to enclose herewith in translation a note received from the Foreign Office with reference to the case of Mr. Adrien J. Kirghis. From this note it appears that the acquisition of a foreign nationality by Mr. Kirghis had never been noted on the French military rolls and that, having been born in France of parents also born in France, he was considered a Frenchman and is about to be called to the colors. Furthermore I was informed by Mr. Kirghis that before sailing from New York for Bordeaux he was advised by the authorities that on landing in France he was liable to be drafted into the French army. In spite of this warning he however persisted in his original intention. I have [etc.] WM. G. SHARP [Inclosure-Translation] The Minister for Foreign Affairs to Ambassador Sharp FOREIGN OFFICE, Paris, January 8, 1916. MR. AMBASSADOR: With reference to a note from the Embassy dated the 17th of this [sic] month, I have the honor to inform you that the French recruiting authorities have never been aware that Adrien J. Kirghis had acquired a foreign nationality. Under these circumstances, the aforementioned, being born in France of parents who themselves were born in France, is considered to be a Frenchman and is at present about to be called to the colors. 1317. Kirghis's father naturalized October 22, 1894. Son highly respected citizen of St. Cloud, Minnesota. Make strong representations for his release from military service. LANSING 1 Continued from Foreign Relations, 1915, pp. 384-389. See also, in this volume, a similar entry under Italy. 270 File No. 351.117/62 Ambassador Sharp to the Secretary of State [Telegram] AMERICAN EMBASSY, 1224. Your 1317, January 15. French Government's decision reported fully in despatch 1853, January 11. Kirghis stated to Embassy that he was warned by authorities in United States before sailing that he would be liable to military service in France. Records of Embassy tend to show that French Government, even in time of peace, has not departed from custom of requiring military service from those persons subject to it by French law notwithstanding naturalization of such persons. All requests based on similar circumstances presented by this Embassy since beginning of war have been refused. Believe further representations on behalf of Kirghis would be fruitless. Please instruct whether you desire additional action. SHARP File No. 351.117/71 The Secretary of State to Ambassador Sharp [Telegram] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, 1406. Louis Levy, born in New York City March 10, 1882, of French father, is applying for removal his name from French military rolls. Extend good offices his behalf. File No. 351.117/73 LANSING Ambassador Sharp to the Secretary of State [Telegram] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Paris, March 10, 1916. 1302. Your 1406, March 4. Foreign Office replies that in France, Louis Levy is French, being born abroad of a French father; that as such he is subject in France to the obligations of military service; and that under these conditions his request does not seem susceptible of favorable action. SHARP File No. 351.117/77 No. 1051 The Secretary of State to Ambassador Sharp DEPARTMENT OF STATE, SIR: The Department has been informed that Armand Robert Garrot, who was born in Chicago, Illinois, on June 7, 1894, of a French father, who, however, obtained naturalization as a citizen of the United States in the County Court of Cook County, Illinois, on March 13, 1901, left the United States in May, 1914, and went to Pontacq, Province of Basses Pyrenées, France, for the purpose of visiting his grandfather, Appolinaire Garrot, who resides at that place. It appears that a passport, No. 40732, was issued by the Department on September 8, 1914, to Armand Robert Garrot and mailed to his address in France upon an application which was made by his father in this country, and that Armand Robert Garrot desires to return to the United States but is being detained by the French authorities for the performance of military service in the French army. You will please inform the appropriate French authorities in regard to the American citizenship of Armand Robert Garrot, and request that he be released from the performance of military service in the French army and permitted to return to the United States. I am [etc.] For the Secretary of State: File No. 351.117/83 No. 3231 Ambassador Sharp to the Secretary of State AMERICAN EMBASSY, SIR: In compliance with the Department's No. 1051 of April 25 directing me to inform the French authorities of the citizenship of Armand Robert Garrot [etc.] I communicated with the Minister for Foreign Affairs. The Minister has just replied that according to French law, Mr. Garrot is French, being born abroad of a French father, and that the naturalization of the father, having been made after the birth of the son, does not modify his origin. The Minister's note, a copy and translation of which is enclosed, states that it is not possible to release Mr. Garrot from military service for which he is held in France. Washington, June 26, 1916. 1575. Your despatch 3231, May 25, concerning Armand Garrot. Upon mother's urgent request and statement that son has broken leg and tuberculosis, renew request for his release. LANSING 2 Not printed. File No. 351.117/87 DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, August 25, 1916. 1673. Department's 1575, June 26, concerning Armand Garrot. Report status case. File No. 351.117/93 LANSING Chargé Bliss to the Secretary of State [Telegrams] AMERICAN EMBASSY, Paris, August 26, 1916. 1557. Your 1673, August 25. Minister of War willing to have Garrot brought before special medical board for examination as to fitness for further service but desires to know to what regiment he is attached. Am endeavoring to obtain this information. File No. 351.117/95 BLISS AMERICAN EMBASSY, 1600. Have ascertained regiment of Garrot and will report result of investigation which I am today requesting of Foreign Office. File No. 351.117/103 BLISS No. 3724 Chargé Bliss to the Secretary of State AMERICAN EMBASSY, Paris, October 5, 1916. SIR: I have the honor to report the case of one Leon Karger who recently invoked the good offices of the Embassy to obtain the cancellation of his name from the French military rolls. This the French Government finally consented to do in response to the Embassy's representations, as Karger's case plainly fell under one of the categories of exemption from military service recognized by the French authorities. The circumstances of the case are as follows: Leon Karger, whose mother was a German subject, was born in Paris on March 22, 1894, the son of Nathan Karger, of Russian origin, who was naturalized as an American citizen on November 21, 1877. Leon Karger, after opting before the French Consul General at New York for the American nationality, upon obtaining his majority, set out for France. Upon reaching Paris he was requested to present himself before the Bureau de Recrutement; he thereupon appealed to the Embassy. After the case had been explained at the Foreign Office, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs notified the War Office that Karger had established his claim to American citizenship and as such was no longer liable to military service in France. For the information of the Department, I enclose herewith the following extract from the French military law under the heading, "The Sons of Foreigners." Are considered French, but with the faculty of repudiating their French status in the year following their majority: 1. Children born in France. of foreign parents born abroad who, upon reaching their majority, are domiciled in France; 2. Minor children of a foreigner who has become a naturalized Frenchman; 3. Minor children of a Frenchman who, having lost his nationality, becomes reinstated as a French citizen; 4. Children born in France of a foreign father born abroad and of a mother born in France. The names of such persons may be removed from the French military rolls even after the Council of Revision, if they repudiate their status as Frenchmen. I have [etc.] File No. 351.117/106 No. 3882 ROBERT WOODS BLISS Chargé Bliss to the Secretary of State AMERICAN EMBASSY, SIR: I have the honor to enclose herewith a copy and translation of a note received from the Foreign Office to the effect that they have been notified by the Minister of War that Mr. Armand Robert Garrot was discharged from the French Army as "Réformé No. 2" under date of September 7 last. I have [etc.] C [Inclosure-Translation] ROBERT WOODS BLISS The Minister of Foreign Affairs to Chargé Bliss FOREIGN OFFICE, MR. CHARGÉ D'AFFAIRES: In answer to your letters of June 17 and 28 and September 1 last, I have the honor to inform you, in accordance with a communication from the Minister of War, that trooper Armand Garrot was discharged as Réformé No. 2" under date of September 7 last. The interested party belonged to the auxiliary service; he is, therefore, by virtue of the law of August 17, 1915, definitely released from military duty. Consequently nothing can now oppose his acquiring American naturalization. Accept [etc.] J. CAMBON ABROGATION OF PROVISIONS OF CERTAIN TREATIES CONFLICT- (See Belgium) EXCHANGE OF NOTES BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND (See Haiti) FRENCH PROTECTORATE IN MOROCCO. ABROGATION OF THE (See Morocco) |