Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 62 Part 2.djvu/669

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INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS OTHER THAN TREATIES [62 STAT. February 25, 1948 [T. . A. S. 17561 Documents from U. S . and French authorities. Clarification of status. Certificate specify- ing nature of service rendered. Effective date; du- ration. Agreement between the United States of America and France respecting the military obligations of certain persons having dual nationality. Effected by exchange of notes signed at Paris February 25, 1948; entered into force February25, 1948. The American Ambassador to the French Minister for Foreign Affairs No. 125 EXCELLENCY: I have the honor to inform you that the Government of the United States of America, desirous of resolving the difficulties which those persons who are nationals of both countries encounter as a result of their military obligations in our two countries, considers that it would be both desirable and opportune to conclude an agreement in the following terms: 1. It will be considered that citizens of the United States of America who are also French citizens have fulfilled their military obligations in France during the war of 1939-1945 if they have fulfilled the same obligations in the armed forces of the United States and can prove the fact by an official document from the United States authorities. 2. It will be considered that French citizens who are also citizens of the United States of America have fulfilled their military obliga- tions to the United States during the war of 1939-1945 if they have fulfilled the same obligations in the French armed forces and can prove the fact by an official document from the French authorities. 3. Interested persons will be granted a period of two years from the date on which this agreement is concluded in which they may clarify their status by the production of the above-mentioned documents. 4. Each of the two governments will deliver to the citizens of the other government who have volunteered in its armed forces during the war of 1939-1945 a certificate designed to permit them to clarify their status in regard to their country. 5. The conditions under which any service rendered in the national interest during the war of 1939-1945 can be considered military serv- ice will be left to the joint decision of the two governments. A cer- tificate specifying the nature of the services rendered will be delivered to the interested party when the question arises by the means pro- vided in the preceding paragraphs. 6. The provisions of this present agreement in no way affect the legal position of interested parties in the matter of nationality. 7. The present agreement will become effective immediately, and will remain in effect until the expiration of the period of two years mentioned in paragraph 3. If these proposals are agreeable to the French Government, this note and Your Excellency's reply to it will constitute the agreement between the two governments on this question.