months in Greece without having their citizenship or military status questioned. If they in. tend to remain in Greece beyond a period of six months they must apply to the passport bureau of the Ministry of the Interior for approval of their citizenship and military status. If they desire to leave at the expiration of six months from the time of arrival, or at any time within the six-month period, they must apply to the Greek passport bureau for approval of their status and in order that they may legally leave the country. Persons who are found to owe military obligations to Greece when they apply at the Greek passport bureau may receive permission to leave the country upon the payment of 300 drachmas.

It is understood that this law became effective on April 20, 1932.

It is suggested that, with regard to visits to Greece of more than six months, American citizens of Greek origin, and American citizens who were born in territory now forming a part of Greece, before their departure for Greece would do well to apply to a Greek consular officer in the United States in order to ascertain from him whether by placing themselves under the jurisdiction of the Greek Government, they would subject themselves to any alleged obligations respecting Greek nationality or Greek military service. Particular attention should be given to this suggestion by American citizens of Greek origin:

1. Who were naturalized as American citizens after January 15, 1914;

2. Who were born in the United States of Greek parents but whose fathers were not regarded as American citizens by the Greek Government at the time of the children's birth;

3. And persons who owed allegiance to a foreign state other than Greece at the time of their naturalization as American citizens but whose place of birth is now a part of Greece.

44. ITALY. It is understood that, except in cases of those who at the time their military class is called for service have resided for more than 2 years in Italy and those (born prior to 1901) who are classed as deserters for failure to carry out their military obligations either in the United States or in Italy during the World War, Italian subjects naturalized in the United States, persons born in the United States of Italian parents, and persons born in Italy of American fathers, are exempt from military service in Italy and may visit that country for an indefinite period without fear of being inducted into the Italian Army.

However, it is suggested that persons who may be exempt from performing military service in Italy provide themselves with the necessary documents to prove when they visit that country that they carried out their military obligations in time of war.

45. LATVIA. According to Latvian law, Latvian citizens desirous of renouncing their citizenship must submit petitions to that effect to the Minister of Interior. The petition must specify the country the citizenship of which the applicant wishes to acquire.

It is understood that, in practice, Americanborn male persons of Latvian parentage reaching full age and presenting an appropriate certificate, such as a passport, required under Latvian law to prove nationality in a foreign country, have experienced no difficulty in renouncing Latvian citizenship. Likewise, naturalized American citizens of former Latvian nationality possessing valid American passports have, in the past, not been held liable to military service in the Latvian Army when temporarily sojourning in that country.

Under the Latvian military service law, male Latvian citizens over 15 years of age cannot be permitted to renounce their Latvian citizenship until they have served in the active or the reserve services of the Army up to their thirtieth year, unless they have been declared exempt from military service.

45a. LITHUANIA. The Department understands that there has been no difficulty with the Lithuanian authorities in connection with military service of naturalized American citizens of Lithuanian origin or of American-born sons of Lithuanian citizens, and that the possession of American citizenship documents has been sufficient to relieve them of military obligations in Lithuania. The American Legation at Kaunas has informed the Department that in case of necessity the interested person should apply to the Legation which will endeavor to

effect an amicable settlement of difficulties encountered with the Lithuanian authorities.

46. NETHERLANDS. The Department is informed that a subject of the Netherlands must register in person or by proxy to take part in the drawing of lots for military service in January of the year in which he reaches the age of 19, if on the first of that month either he or his legal representative resides in Europe.

If, however, neither he nor his legal representative maintains his residence in Europe on that day but establishes himself in Europe thereafter, and before January 1 of the year in which the subject reaches the age of 25, the subject must register in person or by proxy within 30 days after the day upon which he or his representative becomes a resident of Europe.

For an enrolled man holding a rank below that of noncommissioned officer, liability to compulsory service continues until he reaches the age of 40, and for a noncommissioned officer until he reaches the age of 45, and for an officer until he reaches the age of 50.

The drawing of lots for military service takes place annually in September for the levy of the next year. The result of this drawing indicates, first, the ordinary conscripts, or those men who are destined for military service in peace and in war time as well as during the period of emergency; and, second, the extraordinary conscripts, or those men destined only

for service in time of war and other extraordinary circumstances.

The enrolled man is exempt from military service if he is mentally or physically disabled. He is exempt, moreover, in peace time provided one of his brothers has already served a fixed term and provided he makes application for exemption in due time. The exemption is only conditional, however, when granted before the drawing of lots for military service and when half of the number of the enrolled man's brothers, or if the number is uneven, the largest number less than half, has not yet served, and is not destined for ordinary conscription.

No military service is required of one who became a citizen of the United States and has ceased to be a Netherland subject before the calendar year in which he became 19 years of age, and a Netherland subject who in that year becomes a citizen of the United States and loses his status as a citizen of the Netherlands, between January 1 and the next drawing of lots, may have his name removed from the register by applying to the burgomaster of the community in which he was registered. If he does not have his name removed from the register or if he becomes a citizen of the United States after the drawing of lots has begun, his naturalization does not affect his military obligations to the Netherlands, and if he returns he is liable (1) to fulfill his service, if he did not respond to the summons for service, or (2) to be enlisted. In both cases he is liable to be punished if his return takes place within a fixed number of years.