IV. STATUS OF AMERICAN CITIZENS IN CERTAIN COUNTRIES WITH THE GOVERNMENTS OF WHICH THE UNITED STATES HAS NOT CONCLUDED NATURALIZATION TREATIES

46. While this Government objects to the punishment of naturalized Americans by fines, forced military service, or imprisonment for any unperformed military service which accrued after the entry of the naturalized citizen into the United States, it can give no assurance that any objections which it makes will result in a remission or release.

47. This Government cannot properly protest against punishment for any infraction of foreign law committed prior to the naturalized American's entry into the United States.

48. Naturalized citizens of the United States who come from countries with the governments of which the United States has not concluded naturalization treaties should, before visiting such countries, consider the advisability of inquiring of the

appropriate authorities thereof whether they will be immune from molestation in such countries under the military-service or other laws. The Department of State does not act as intermediary in such inquiries.

The following information is believed to be correct, but is not to be considered as official insofar as it relates to the laws and regulations of a foreign government:

49. Estonia. According to paragraph 20 of the Estonian nationality law of October 27, 1922, the loss of Estonian nationality is conditional on obtaining authorization from the Estonian Minister of the Interior. The application for authorization to renounce Estonian nationality must be accompanied by a certificate showing the acquisition of a foreign nationality. Consequently Estonian nationals who have become nationals of the United States and have not applied for and obtained authorization to renounce their Estonian nationality are considered under the law of Estonia to be nationals of that country. Under paragraph 1 of the Estonian law on military service, all male nationals of Estonia are liable for military service.

According to paragraph 2 of the Estonian law on nationality, children born without the territory of Estonia of a father who is an Estonian national are held to be Estonian nationals. Paragraph 6 of the same law expressly provides that no citizen of the Estonian Republic can

be at one and the same time a citizen of another state. Consequently a person who was born in the United States of an Estonian father and who therefore acquired both American and Estonian nationality at birth is considered by the Estonian Government to have but one nationality, namely, Estonian.

It is understood that the Estonian Government, in view of the provisions of the nationality and military service laws of Estonia, is not prepared to permit persons who have not applied for and obtained authorization to renounce their Estonian nationality to visit Estonia without being required to perform military service or other acts of allegiance. This is understood to apply to persons born in Estonia and naturalized in the United States and to persons born in the United States of Estonian parents. It is understood that, in practice, persons who have presented an appropriate certificate, required under Estonian law to prove their nationality in a foreign country have experienced no difficulty in renouncing their Estonian nationality.

50. Finland.-The Finnish "Law Regarding the Loss of Finnish Citizenship" of June 17, 1927, provides for the loss, in certain circumstances, of the Finnish citizenship of Finnish citizens born outside of Finland, and of Finnish citizens born in Finland who become citizens of other countries.

With respect to Finnish citizens born outside of Finland, article 2 of the law cited provides, among other things, as follows:

"A Finnish citizen who was born outside of Finland and (1) has never had his domicile in Finland, or (2) has not been in the active military service of Finland as a conscript, or (3) has not attended a Finnish or Swedish educational institution in Finland for at least 2 years, loses his Finnish citizenship at the age of 22 years, unless the President of the Republic, upon petition, makes a decision to the contrary."

The Department understands that a person who loses his Finnish citizenship in this manner is not, during a subsequent stay in Finland, held liable for military service or any other obligation of citizenship.

With respect to Finnish citizens born in Finland who acquire the citizenship of another country through naturalization, article 1 of the law cited provides as follows:

"A Finnish citizen who becomes a citizen of another country loses his Finnish citizenship if his domicile is outside of Finland or if he removes from Finland.

"However a male citizen of Finland whose age is between 17 and 28 years and who has not fulfilled as a conscript his active military service or who has not been legally exempted from military service, may be released from his Finnish citizenship only by means of a special decree of the President of the Republic.'

It may be added in this connection that the Department is informed that the laws of Finland contain no provisions for the renunciation of acquired foreign citizenship through the mere act of returning to and residing in Finland.

51. France. While the following information is believed to be correct, persons born in France, or born outside of France of French parents, should, before visiting France, consider the desirability of inquiring of the nearest French consular or diplomatic officer whether they will be immune from molestation in France under the military service or other laws of that country.

American citizens of French origin visiting France should understand that a French visa of their passport does not relieve them from any military or other obligations to which they may be liable in that country.

LOSS OF FRENCH NATIONALITY BY FRENCH CITIZENS NATURALIZED AS CITIZENS OF THE UNITED STATES

(a) Persons naturalized as American citizens prior to August 10, 1927.-Article 17 of the French Civil Code, which is understood to be applicable to French citizens naturalized as citizens of the United States prior to August 10, 1927, provides as follows:

"The following lose their French nationality:

"The Frenchman who is naturalized in a foreign country or who acquires, at his request, foreign nationality by operation of the law.

"If he is still subject to the obligations of military service in the active army, naturalization in a foreign land will only cause the loss of French nationality if it has been authorized by the French Government;"

The term "active army" as used in the above article is interpreted as including the "reserve of the active army."