for carrying out this agreement are to be worked out directly between the War Department and the Selective Service System on the part of the United States Government and the appropriate authorities of the Chinese Government. It should be understood, however, that in all cases a person exercising an option under the agreement must actually be accepted by the military authorities of his country.

Before the above-mentioned procedure will be made effective with regard to China, this Department wishes to receive a note stating that your Government desires to avail itself of the procedure and in so doing agrees that:

(a) No threat or compulsion of any nature will be exercised by the Chinese Government to induce any person in the United States to enlist in the forces of that Government or any foreign government;

(b) Reciprocal treatment will be granted to American citizens by the Chinese Government; that is, prior to induction in the armed forces of China they will be granted the opportunity of electing to serve in the armed forces of the United States in substantially the same manner as outlined above. Furthermore, the Chinese Government shall agree to inform all American citizens serving in its armed forces or former American citizens who may have lost their citizenship as a result of having taken an oath of allegiance on enlistment in such armed forces and who are now serving in these forces that they may transfer to the armed forces of the United States provided they desire to do so and provided they are acceptable to the armed forces of the United States.

(c) No enlistments will be accepted in the United States by the Chinese Government of American citizens subject to registration or of aliens of any nationality who have declared their intention of becoming American citizens and are subject to registration. This Government is prepared to make the proposed regime effective immediately with respect to China upon the receipt from you of a note stating that your Government desires to participate in it and agrees to the stipulations set forth in lettered paragraphs (a), (b), and (c) above.

Accept, Excellency, the renewed assurances of my highest consideration.

For the Acting Secretary of State:
G. HOWLAND SHAW

His Excellency

Dr. WEI TAO-MING,

Chinese Ambassador.

The Chinese Ambassador to the Secretary of State

CHINESE EMBASSY

WASHINGTON

May 11, 1944

SIR:

I have the honor to refer to your note of November 6, 1943, concerning the application of the United States Selective Training and Service Act of 1940, as amended, to Chinese nationals resident in the United States, and the readiness of the United States Government to initiate a procedure which will permit Chinese nationals to elect to serve in the armed forces of China in lieu of service in the armed. forces of the United States.

My Government has instructed me to inform you that it desires to avail itself of the procedure set out and agrees to the stipulations enumerated in paragraphs lettered (a), (b), and (c) of your note dated November 6, 1943.

On its part, however, my Government desires the concurrence of the United States Government in regard to the following:

(i) the United States Government will make the above procedure known to all Chinese nationals who are to be inducted, or who are already serving, in the armed forces of the United States, (ii) Chinese nationals who avail themselves of the option to serve in the Armed Forces of China will be permitted to return to the United States upon the termination of honorable service, subject to the provisions of the Immigration Laws in effect at the time of their return.

I shall be glad to be informed regarding the administrative arrangements that are necessary for giving effect to the above agreement. Accept, Sir, the renewed assurance of my highest consideration. WEI TAO-MING

Honorable CORDELL HULL
Secretary of State

The Secretary of State to the Chinese Ambassador

DEPARTMENT OF STATE

EXCELLENCY:

WASHINGTON
June 13, 1944.

I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your note of May 11, 1944, in regard to the proposed military service agreement between China and the United States, and to inform you that the appropriate authorities of this Government have agreed in principle to the stipulations contained in that note.

The War Department has stated that it is prepared to notify all Chinese nationals who already may be serving in the armed forces of the United States of their opportunity to elect to serve in the armed forces of their own country in lieu of serving in the Army of the United States. However, the War Department has pointed out that. in implementing the details of this proposed agreement, necessity requires that transfers from United States troops in overseas theaters be limited to those instances where suitable Chinese troops are serving in the vicinity to which the individual could be assigned.

The Director of the Selective Service System states that under present Selective Service procedures each local board is requested to send Notice to Citizen of Allied Nation (Form 308) to the registrant. There are enclosed for your information specimen copies of Local Board Memoranda 129 and 129A, and Forms 221, 308, 502, and 503,[1] which are for use by aliens of co-belligerent nations who wish to elect to serve in the armed forces of their own country.

Lieutenant Colonel S. G. Parker of the National Headquarters, Selective Service System, and Major General Guy V. Henry, of the InterAllied Personnel Board of the War Department, will be available to discuss with Chinese military officials all details pertaining to the reciprocal arrangement.

Accept, Excellency, the renewed consideration.

assurances of my highest