Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 56 Part 2.djvu/808

 1894 INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS OTHER THAN TREATIES [56 STAT. In regard to the third paragraph on page 4 of your note, in which you express the understanding of your Government that the Govern- ment of the United States will accord the same right of transfer to Belgian citizens now serving in the armed forces of the United States as is accorded to American citizens serving in the Belgian forces, I am pleased to inform you the necessary arrangements have been made by the War Department to release, upon application, all non- declarant Belgian nationals in the United States forces who desire to be discharged in order that they may transfer to the Belgian forces. However, in regard to the hope expressed in the penultimate paragraph of your note, that Belgian nationals who elect to serve in the armed forces of Belgium will be permitted to return to the United States within six months after the termination of their service with the Belgian forces, I have to inform you that this matter is still under consideration by the appropriate authorities of the Government. I shall communicate further with you as soon as definite arrangements in regard to this question have been made. The Director of Selective Service has indicated that it will not be possible for the Selective Service System to furnish the desired names and addresses of Belgian nationals registered under Selective Service, since the compilation of such lists would place an added burden on the local boards which cannot be undertaken at this time. He also states that he assumes that, in so far as Belgium is concerned, the details of the action taken by the Selective Service System will be exactly as outlined in the enclosed local board release of May 2, 1942.[2] Major W. D. Partlow of the War Department, and Major Sherrow G. Parker of the Selective Service System, will be available to discuss with the appropriate Belgian officials the details relating to this arrangement. Accept, Excellency, the renewed assurances of my highest consid- eration. For the Secretary of State: G. HOWLAND SHAW Enclosure: Local Board Release No. 129, May 2, 1942. His Excellency Count ROBERT VAN DER STRATEN-PONTHOZ, Belgian Ambassador. 2 [Not printed.]

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