parties shall have given notice of termination to the other; whereupon any subject or citizen of either country incorporated into the military service of the other under this Convention shall be as soon as possible discharged therefrom. In witness whereof the respective Plenipotentiaries have signed the present Convention and have affixed thereto their seals. DONE in duplicate at Washington the third day of June, in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and eighteen. SIR: EXCHANGE OF NOTES The Ambassador of Great Britain on Special Mission to the Secretary of State BRITISH EMBASSY Washington, June 3, 1918 With reference to the Military Service Convention between the United States and Great Britain signed today, I am instructed by His Majesty's Government to explain why the proviso to Article One does not limit the military service of citizens of the United States in Great Britain to those of the ages specified in the laws of the United States prescribing compulsory military service, as requested by the United States Government. The reason for the omission of this clause in the proviso is a desire to avoid the delay that would be involved in modifying the Military Service Acts 1916 to 1918, which control the operation of any convention of this character. I beg you, therefore, to be good enough not to press this proposal. The effect of these Acts is to make United States citizens in Great Britain under this convention liable to military service between the ages of 18 and 49 both inclusive. The limitation of the ages of United States citizens in Great Britain for the purpose of military service to those prescribed in the laws of the United States relating to compulsory military service may, however, be attained without amendment of these Acts by exercise of the United States of its right of exemption under Article Three. His Majesty's Government understand, therefore, that the United States Government will exercise their right under Article Three to exempt from compulsory military service in Great Britain all citizens of the United States in Great Britain, outside the ages specified in the laws of the United States prescribing compulsory military service. I have the honor to be with the highest consideration, Sir, Your most obedient, humble servant, The Honorable ROBERT LANSING, Secretary of State of the United States. READING The Secretary of State to the Ambassador of Great Britain on Special Mission EXCELLENCY: DEPARTMENT OF STATE, I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of Your Excellency's note of this date in regard to the Military Service Convention between the United States and Great Britain signed today, in which you state that you are instructed to explain why the proviso to Article One does not limit the military service of citizens of the United States in Great Britain to those of the ages specified in the laws of the United States prescribing compulsory military service as requested by the United States Government. In explanation Your Excellency states as follows: "The reason for the omission of this clause in the proviso is a desire to avoid the delay which would be involved in modifying the Military Service Acts 1916 to 1918, which control the operation of any convention of this character. I beg you therefore to be good enough not to press this proposal. "The effect of these Acts is to make United States citizens in Great Britain under this convention liable to military service between the ages of 18 and 49 years, both inclusive. The limitation of the ages of United States citizens in Great Britain for the purposes of military service to those prescribed in the laws of the United States relating to compulsory military service, may, however, be attained without amendment of these Acts by the exercise by the United States of its right of exemption under Article Three." Your Excellency adds that "His Majesty's Government understand, therefore, that the United States Government will exercise its right under Article Three to exempt from compulsory military service in Great Britain all citizens of the United States in Great Britain, outside the ages specified in the laws of the United States prescribing compulsory military service." In reply I have the honor to inform your Excellency that the Government of the United States is pleased to accept this explanation of said Article One and in lieu of a clause in this Article limiting the military service of citizens of the United States in Great Britain to those of the ages specified in the laws of the United States prescribing compulsory military service to exercise its right under Article Three to exempt from compulsory military service in Great Britain all citizens of the United States in Great Britain outside of the ages specified in the laws of the United States prescribing compulsory military service. I have the honor to be, with the highest consideration, Your Excellency's most obedient servant, His Excellency THE EARL OF READING, Ambassador of Great Britain on Special Mission. ROBERT LANSING MILITARY SERVICE (CANADA) Convention signed at Washington June 3, 1918 Senate advice and consent to ratification June 24, 1918 Ratifications exchanged at London July 30, 1918 Entered into force July 30, 1918 Proclaimed by the President of the United States July 30, 1918 40 Stat. 1624; Treaty Series 634 The President of the United States of America and His Majesty the King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and of the British Dominions Beyond the Seas, Emperor of India, being convinced that for the better prosecution of the present war it is desirable that citizens of the United States in Canada and Canadian British subjects in the United States shall either return to their own country to perform military service in its army or shall serve in the army of the country in which they remain, have resolved to enter into a Convention to that end and have accordingly appointed as their Plenipotentiaries: The President of the United States of America, Robert Lansing, Secretary of State of the United States, and His Britannic Majesty, The Earl of Reading, Lord Chief Justice of England, High Commissioner and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary on Special Mission to the United States, who, after having communicated to each other their respective full powers found to be in proper form, have agreed upon and concluded the following Articles: ARTICLE I All male citizens of the United States in Canada (hereinafter called Americans) and all male British subjects in the United States (a) who were born or naturalized in Canada, and who, before proceeding to the United States, were ordinarily resident in Great Britain or Canada or in any other part of His Majesty's Dominions to which compulsory military service has been or may be hereafter by law applied, or outside the British Dominions; or (b) who were not born or naturalized in Canada, but who, before proceeding to the United States, were ordinarily resident in Canada (hereinafter called Canadians) shall, unless before the time limited by this Convention they enlist or enroll in the forces of their own country or return to the United States or Canada, respectively, for the purpose of military service, be subject to military service and entitled to exemption or discharge therefrom under the laws and regulations, from time to time in force, of the country in which they are: Provided, that in respect to Americans in Canada, the ages for military service shall be the ages specified in the laws of the United States prescribing compulsory military service, and in respect to Canadians in the United States the ages for military service shall be for the time being twenty to forty-four years, both inclusive. ARTICLE II Americans and Canadians within the age limits aforesaid who desire to enter the military service of their own country must enlist or enroll, or must leave Canada or the United States, as the case may be, for the purpose of military service in their own country before the expiration of sixty days after the date of the exchange of ratifications of this Convention, if liable to military service in the country in which they are at the said date; or, if not so liable, then before the expiration of thirty days after the time when liability shall accrue; or, as to those holding certificates of exemption under Article III of this Convention, before the expiration of thirty days after the date on which any such certificate becomes inoperative unless sooner renewed; or as to those who apply for certificates of exemption under Article III, and whose applications are refused, then before the expiration of thirty days after the date of such refusal, unless the application be sooner granted. ARTICLE III The Government of the United States, through the Consul General at Ottawa, and His Britannic Majesty's Government through the British Ambassador at Washington may issue certificates of exemption from military service to Americans and Canadians, respectively, upon application or otherwise, within sixty days from the date of the exchange of ratifications of this Convention or within thirty days from the date when such citizens or subjects become liable to military service in accordance with Article I, provided that the applications be made or the certificates be granted prior to their entry into the military service of either country. Such certificates may be spe-cial or general, temporary or conditional and may be modified, renewed, or revoked in the discretion of the Government granting them. Persons holding |