RATIFICATION ADVISED BY THE SENATE, SEPTEMBER 19, 1918 RATIFIED BY THE PRESIDENT, OCTOBER 21, 1918 RATIFIED BY GREECE, OCTOBER 23, 1918 RATIFICATIONS EXCHANGED AT WASHINGTON AND ATHENS, PROCLAIMED, NOVEMBER 18, 1918 WASHINGTON BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. A PROCLAMATION. Whereas, a Convention between the United States of America and the Kingdom of Greece providing for the reciprocal military service of citizens of the United States in Greece and citizens of Greece in, the United States, was concluded and signed by their respective Plenipotentiaries at Washington on the thirtieth day of August, one thousand nine hundred and eighteen, the original of which Convention, being in the English and Greek languages, is word for word as follows: The President of the United States of America and His Majesty the King of the Hellenes, being convinced that for the better prosecution of the present war it is desirable that citizens of the United States in Greece and citizens of Greece 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, Robert Lansing, Secretary of State of the United States; and His Majesty the King of the Hellenes, Mr. Georges Roussos, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of Greece 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 Greece and all male citizens of Greece in the United States, 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 Greece, 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 citizens of the United States in Greece 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 citizens of Greece in the United States the ages for military service shall be for the time being twenty to forty-four years, both inclusive. Article II. Citizens of the United States and citizens of Greece within the age limits aforesaid who desire to enter the military service of their own country must enlist or enroll or must leave Greece 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 and the Government of Greece may through their respective diplomatic representatives issue certificates of exemption from military service to citizens of the United States in Greece and citizens of Greece in the United States, 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 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 special or general, temporary or conditional, and may be modified, renewed, or revoked in the discretion of the Government granting them. Persons holding such certificates shall, so long as the certificates are in force, not be liable to military service in the country in which they are. Article IV. The Government of the United States and the Government of Greece will, respectively, so far as possible, facilitate the return of citizens of Greece and citizens of the United States who may desire to return to their own country for military service, but shall not be responsible for providing transport or the cost of transport for such persons. Article V. No citizen of either country who, under the provisions of this convention, enters the military service of the other shall, by reason of such service, be considered after this convention shall have expired or after his discharge to have lost his nationality or to be under any allegiance to His Majesty the King of the Hellenes or to the United States, as the case may be. Article VI. The present convention shall be ratified by the President of the United States of America by and with the advice and consent of the Senate of the United States and by His Majesty, the King of the Hellenes, and the ratifications shall be exchanged at Washington or at Athens as soon as possible. It shall come into operation on the date on which the ratifications are exchanged and shall remain in force until the expiration of sixty days after either of the contracting corresponding to the twenty-third day of the eighth month of the seventh year of Taisho. And whereas the said agreement, has been duly ratified on both parts, and the ratifications of the two governments were exchanged in the City of Washington, on the thirtieth day of December, one thousand nine hundred and eighteen; Now, therefore, be it known that I, Woodrow Wilson, President of the United States of America, have caused the said agreement to be made public, to the end that the same and every article and clause thereof, may be observed and fulfilled with good faith by the United States and the citizens thereof. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed. [SEAL.] Done in the District of Columbia, this twenty-fifth day of February, in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and nineteen, and of the Independence of the United States of America the one hundred and forty-third. By the President: FRANK L. POLK, Acting Secretary of State. о WOODROW WILSON. |