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PROTOCOL OF EXCHANGE

The undersigned, the Secretary of State of the United States of America and the Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of Greece at Washington, met this day for the purpose of exchanging the ratifications of the extradition treaty between the United States of America and Greece, signed at Athens on May 6, 1931.

It being found on a comparison of the respective ratifications that the words "insurance and other companies," in Article 2, paragraph 10, of the English text of the treaty as contained in the Greek instrument of ratification, are not contained in that article and paragraph as it appears in the English text of the instrument of ratification of the United States of America, the Secretary of State of the United States of America declared that it was intended by the Government of the United States to have these words appear in the English text of the United States original of the treaty, as their equivalent appears in the Greek text thereof, that their omission from the English text was an inadvertence and that the United States original of the treaty and the United States ratified exchange copy of the treaty should be understood as including those words, the same as if they had been actually written in the English text thereof.

This declaration being accepted by the Minister of Greece, the exchange took place this day in the usual form.

In witness whereof, the aforesaid Plenipotentiaries have signed the present Protocol of Exchange and have affixed their seals thereto. DONE at Washington this first day of November, one thousand nine hundred and thirty-two.

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EXEMPTION FROM ALLEGED MILITARY OBLIGATIONS ACCORDED BY GREECE TO AMERICAN CITIZENS OF GREEK ORIGIN

868.111/45

The Minister in Greece (Skinner) to the Secretary of State

No. 1158

ATHENS, November 26, 1929. [Received December 13.]

SIR: I have the honor to report that by an order of the Ministry of War dated October 31, 1929, no measures will be taken during the year 1930 against Greek citizens returning to this country from America or against American citizens of Greek origin returning to Greece, by reason of alleged military obligations.

13

The "amnesty" originally granted for the period March 1-October 1, 1929 (reported in the Legation's despatch No. 841 of March 1, 1929 18) was recently extended to cover the remainder of the present year, and according to official information now received, it has been further extended to December 31, 1930. An English translation of the pertinent order of the Ministry of War is enclosed.13

It will be observed that apart from the privilege of returning to Greece without molestation during the period mentioned, military delinquents are offered certain facilities in the event they desire to adjust their military obligations and thus remove the delinquency for all time. It will be also noted that these facilities will terminate on the same date as the "amnesty" now granted-i. e. on December 31, 1930.

I shall in the meanwhile continue to keep the question of a naturalization treaty before the attention of the competent Hellenic authorities,14 in the hope that it may be possible to come to a definite understanding with respect to the vexatious matters of dual nationality and military obligations.

I have [etc.]

ROBERT P. SKINNER

368.117/269: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Chargé in Greece (Fisher)

[Paraphrase]

WASHINGTON, October 30, 1930-noon. 23. Legation's despatch No. 1158, November 26, 1929, the Department suggests the advisability at this time of ascertaining whether the Greek Government would be willing to permit during the year 1931 American citizens of Greek origin, both naturalized and American born, to visit Greece without molestation on account of alleged military obligations. You may state, while making such inquiries, that it is the feeling of the Department that it is necessary to give appropriate publicity to the matter in this country, in order that plans for the coming year 1931 may be made by prospective visitors.

Should a suitable occasion be presented, you may, in your discretion, informally mention the matter to Prime Minister Venizelos and express to him this Government's appreciation of the Greek Government's good will as shown in the arrangement arrived at during 1930 and the hope of finding a way to effect a similar arrangement during

13 Not printed.

14

For previous correspondence regarding proposed naturalization treaty, see Foreign Relations, 1928, vol. 1, pp. 25 ff.

1931. At the same time it might be desirable to point out that not only would a certain relatively small class of American citizens naturally benefit by such an arrangement, but the Greek people as a whole would benefit by reason of the encouragement given by it to such organized excursions and other visits to Greece as took place in 1930.

STIMSON

368.117/270

The Chargé in Greece (Fisher) to the Secretary of State

No. 1525

ATHENS, November 7, 1930. [Received November 24.]

SIR: I have the honor to refer to telegram No. 23 of October 30, 1930, relative to the extension for another year of the amnesty from military service for American citizens of Greek origin.

I today called on the Foreign Minister (it is the first time he has been available since his return from Ankara), and Mr. Michalakopoulos told me that he would do his best to have the Council of Ministers continue the present arrangement. He said that the Minister of War always objected, but that he (the Foreign Minister) felt he could force a decision for the continuation of the amnesty, as he had done before.

It was evident that Mr. Michalakopoulos was in favor of extending the present arrangement, so no persuasion on my part was necessary. Respectfully yours, CARL A. FISHER

368.117/276

The Secretary of State to the Minister in Greece (Skinner)

No. 456

WASHINGTON, January 28, 1931. SIR: Reference is made to the Department's telegram No. 23, of October 30, 1930, and to related correspondence dealing with the question of military service required of naturalized American citizens of Greek origin or American citizens born in this country of Greek parentage, who find themselves temporarily within the jurisdiction of the Greek Government.

As the Legation doubtless knows, the Conference for the Codification of International Law held at The Hague March-April, 1930, adopted a "Protocol Relating to Military Obligations in Certain Cases of Double Nationality." 15 The Protocol was signed by the Greek Plenipotentiaries, ad referendum. Recently the American Minister at Berne, Switzerland, signed the Protocol on behalf of this Govern

15 Ibid., 1930, vol. 1, p. 224.

ment.10 For your convenience there is enclosed a copy of the Department's mimeographed press release of January 5, 1931,17 relating to the signature of the Protocol by the American Minister at Berne. A copy of the Protocol in question is also enclosed.

It will be noted that, according to Article I of the Protocol, “a person possessing two or more nationalities who habitually resides in one of the countries whose nationality he possesses, and who is in fact most closely connected with that country, shall be exempt from all military obligations in the other country or countries."

Once the Protocol has entered into force, the provision quoted above will doubtless serve to eliminate in large part the difficulties which have arisen in the past with respect to Greek military obligations.

It will be observed, however, that according to Articles 11 and 12 the Protocol will not enter into force until ninety days after the date on which ratifications or accessions on behalf of ten Members of the League of Nations or non-Member States have been deposited.18 According to the Department's information no ratifications or accessions have yet been reported.

The enclosed information is transmitted in the belief that it may be of use to you in connection with the Department's telegram under reference. Inasmuch as the Protocol in question seems to indicate that the Greek Government is, in principle, in agreement with the American point of view on the question of military service, the Department hopes that a way may be found, pending the time when the Protocol comes into force, to extend the arrangement mentioned in the Department's telegram of October 30, 1930.

Very truly yours,

For the Secretary of State:
W. R. CASTLE, JR.

368.117/280

The Minister in Greece (Skinner) to the Secretary of State

No. 1623

ATHENS, February 11, 1931. [Received February 26.]

SIR: I have received the Department's instruction No. 456, dated February [January] 28, 1931 in regard to exemption from military service in this country of American citizens of Greek origin who possess a double nationality. I have brought the protocol adopted at Geneva [The Hague] to the attention of the Hellenic Government, and have urged that its principle be put into effect in anticipation of formal ratification of the arrangements contemplated. What will be

16 Signed on December 31, 1930, Foreign Relations, 1930, vol. 1, p. 223, footnote 18. 17 Department of State, Press Releases, January 10, 1931, p. 15.

18

Protocol registered with the Secretariat of the League of Nations on May 25, 1937, following its entry into force. League of Nations Treaty Series, vol. CLXXVIII, p. 227.

the result I do not know, but of this I am quite sure-that the military authorities will do their utmost to prevent final acceptance of the scheme.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Michalakopoulos, is (as I believe) favorable to proposals of this kind, but he is always opposed by the Military Department, which thus far has been unable to perceive that claims to military service, as far as naturalized Americans are concerned, are of no value whatever, and that the only result of insisting upon the right to demand military service is to prevent a good many thousands of decent persons from coming to Greece to pass their holidays and spend their money. Mr. Michalakopoulos, as I have said, quite sees this, and I am disposed to think that he will endeavor to carry his own point of view, but some time must elapse before he succeeds in doing so.

Respectfully yours,

368.117/286

ROBERT P. SKINNER

The Minister in Greece (Skinner) to the Secretary of State No. 1682

ATHENS, April 3, 1931. [Received April 15.]

SIR: I telegraphed the Department yesterday 19 stating that the Hellenic Government had agreed in writing to extend through 1931 exemption from military service in this country, to American citizens of Greek origin who might return temporarily, as excursionists or otherwise, to the land of their birth. I again discussed the matter orally with the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Michalakopoulos, this morning, to whom I pointed out the desirability of a definite and permanent understanding on the subject. I stated to him that exemption from military service in the case of returning Greeks was not enough, and that we also deemed ourselves entitled to a positive assurance that on the departure of Greeks (being naturalized American citizens) individually for the United States, they should be granted exit visas on their American passports without being vexed as they are from time to time by the demand of local officials that they deny their American citizenship and take out Greek passports.

Mr. Michalakopoulos expressed to me his desire that passenger traffic between the United States and Greece should not be impeded by useless administrative methods, he looked upon the coming of naturalized citizens as a matter of considerable economic importance to the country, but he was not prepared to negotiate a treaty covering the points involved, because of the possible effect of such a treaty upon the position of Greeks in Egypt who are very numerous and whose

"Telegram not printed.

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