Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 59 Part 2.djvu/915

 INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS OTHER THAN TREATIES [59 STAT. April 2, 5, 1945 [E. A. S. 475] 54 Stat. 885. 50U.S.C.app.§§ 301-318; Supp. IV, § 302 et seq. Ante, p. 166. Registration. Nationals of cobel- ligerent countries. Induction procedure Agreement between the United States of America and Ecuador respecting military service. Effected by exchange of notes signed at Washington April 2 and 5, 1945. The Secretary of State to the EcuadoranAmbassador DEPARTMENT OF STATE WASHINGTON April 2, 1945 EXCELLENCY: I have the honor to refer to the verbal indication made on March 23, 1945, by an officer of the Ecuadoran Embassy to an officer of the Department of State that Your Excellency's Government desires to conclude an agreement with this Government with respect to the application of the United States Selective Training and Service Act of 1940, as amended, to Ecuadoran nationals residing in the United States. As you are aware, the Act provides that with certain exceptions every male citizen of the United States and every other male person between the ages of eighteen and sixty-five residing in the United States shall register. The Act further provides that, with certain exceptions, registrants within specified age limits are liable for active military service in the United States armed forces. This Government recognizes that from the standpoint of morale of the individuals concerned and the over-all military effort of the coun- tries at war with the Axis Powers, it is desirable to permit certain nationals of cobelligerent countries who have registered or who may register under the Selective Training and Service Act of 1940, as amended, to enlist in the armed forces of their own country, should they desire to do so. It will be recalled that during the World War this Government signed conventions with certain associated powers on this subject. The United States Government believes, however, that under existing circumstances the same ends may now be accom- plished through administrative action, thus obviating the delays inci- dent to the signing and ratification of conventions. This Government has, therefore, initiated a procedure permitting aliens who have registered under the Selective Training and Service Act of 1940, as amended, who are nationals of certain cobelligerent countries and who have not declared their intention of becoming American citizens to elect to serve in the forces of their respective countries, in lieu of service in the armed forces of the United States, at any time prior to their induction into the armed forces of this country. This Government is also affording to such nationals, who may already be serving in the armed forces of the United States, an 1598

�