3 that, upon the arrival in Greece of persons of the Greek race holding foreign passports, they shall be exempt from all inquiry in respect of their military obligations if they do not intend to stay in Greece for more than 6 months.

The law is understood to mean that American citizens of Greek race may spend up to 6 months in Greece without having their military status questioned. If they desire to leave at the expiration of 6 months from the time of arrival, or at any time within the 6-month period, they must apply to the Greek Passport Bureau of the Ministry of the Interior 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 to the Greek Passport Bureau may receive permission to leave the country upon the payment of 300 drachmas. If they intend to remain in Greece beyond a period of 6 months they must apply to the Greek Passport Bureau for approval of their military status. It is understood that the privilege of departing from Greece upon the payment of 300 drachmas is not extended to persons of the Greek race who remain in Greece longer than 6 months and are found to be liable to military obligations to that country.

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

The Department understands that the Greek Government regards presumptively as Greek nationals:

(1) Former Greek nationals naturalized abroad after January 15, 1914, without authorization of the Greek Government;

(2) Persons who were born abroad of Greek parents or parents who were considered by the Greek Government to have Greek nationality, even though they actually may have acquired a foreign nationality; (3) Persons of Greek race and religion who were former Turkish subjects originating from Turkish territory, except Istanbul, regardless of the date when they left Turkey; and

(4) Persons of Greek race and religion who were former Turkish subjects originating from Istanbul, and who left Istanbul before August 1, 1929, without regular Turkish passports issued by the authorities of the Turkish Republic.

A native or a naturalized American citizen who visits Greece and remains for more than 6 months and whose case falls within any of the above groups may be arrested, registered as a Greek citizen, and required to perform the duties and obligations of citizenship, including military service. In such an event, American consular officers in Greece are unable to assist them in avoiding the usual operation of Greek law as long as such American citizens of the Greek race remain in Greece.

It is suggested that, with regard to visits to Greece of more than 6 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 mili

tary service. Particular attention should be given to this suggestion by American citizens of the groups enumerated above who may be regarded as Greek citizens by the Greek Government.

50. Iran (Persia).-It is provided in article 988 of the Iranian nationality law of February 16, 1935, that Iranian nationals may not abandon their nationality except under the following conditions:

(1) They must have reached the age of 25 years.

(2) They must have the authorization of the Council of Ministers.

(3) They must agree beforehand to transfer to an Iranian subject, in some manner and within 1 year after the repudiation of their Iranian nationality, all their rights to the immovable property they may own in Iran or which they might acquire by inheritance, even if Iranian law authorizes foreign nationals to possess immovable property. The wife and major or minor children of a person who in accordance with this article renounces his nationality do not lose their Iranian nationality unless the decision of the Council of Ministers includes them.

(4) They must have performed their military service.

Persons who in conformity with this article proceed with filing an application to relinquish their Iranian nationality and acquire foreign nationality, in addition to fulfilling the provisions of paragraph 3 of this article which are applicable to them, must leave Iran within a period of 1 year. Should they fail to leave within the said time limit, the competent au

thorities will order their expulsion and the sale of their properties. In the event that such persons should desire in the future to come to Iran, it will be necessary to obtain special authorization from the Council of Ministers, which may be granted only once and for a definite period.

It is provided in article 989 of the Iranian nationality law of February 16, 1935, that the Iranian Government will not recognize a change of nationality on the part of an Iranian subject which was made after the year 1901 without the consent of the Iranian Government and that the immovable property in Iran of an Iranian subject naturalized in a foreign state will be sold under the supervision of the local public prosecutor, and the proceeds of the sale after the deduction of costs will be delivered to him.

Article 2 of the Law of Entry, Exit, and Residence of Foreign Nationals in Iran of May 10, 1931, which was continued in force by the law of January 10, 1933, stipulates that visas must be refused to those persons who are considered Iranian subjects under Iranian law and who may desire to make a trip to Iran with nonIranian nationality papers. Article 3 of the same law provides for the deportation of persons who may enter Iran contrary to the provisions of article 2.

There is no treaty of naturalization between the United States and Iran defining the status while in Iran of former Iranian subjects who have become naturalized as American citizens. Consequently no assurance can be given to such persons that any representations made on their

behalf by the American diplomatic or consular officers abroad will be successful.

51. 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 (such as discharge or exemption certificates from the American or Italian military services) to prove when they visit Italy that they carried out their military obligations in time of war. It is understood that even those persons who were delinquent in regard to their military obligations to Italy in time of war may visit that country for a period of 6 months, without molestation, if they obtain from an Italian consul a special safe conduct good for that purpose.

52. Latvia. According to Latvian law, Latvian citizens desirous of renouncing their citizenship must submit petitions to that effect to