Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, 1918, Supplement 2, The World War

File No. 851.4054/26

The French Ambassador ( Jusserand) to the Secretary of State

[Translation]

Washington, November 7, 1918.
[Received November 9.]

Mr. Secretary of State: I took pains to communicate to my Government the contents of the letter which Your Excellency was pleased to address to me on the 14th of September last, with respect to the repression of false declarations that might be made by American soldiers on the occasion of their marrying French women.

Upon perusal of that communication the Government of the Republic wishes me to inquire of Your Excellency whether you would be willing to exchange with me notes making now a record of the agreement of the two Governments on the principles recognized by them in the matter.

In my Government’s opinion the note, of which a copy is enclosed, together with the answer it calls for constitute the agreement that might be made public through an insertion on the same day in the official journals of the two countries.

I should be thankful to Your Excellency if you would kindly let me know as soon as possible whether this proceeding meets with the approval of the Federal Government.

Be pleased to accept [etc.]

Jusserand

[Enclosure—Translation]

Draft of Proposed Note from the French Ambassador ( Jusserand) to the Secretary of State

Mr. Secretary of State: According to the correspondence exchanged between us on the subject of formalities to be provided in order that every possible guarantee be given to the validity of their marriage to young French women sought in marriage by soldiers of the American Army, the Federal Government has evinced a disposition to furnish the following guarantees:0

1. Production by the American soldier contemplating matrimony of a paper containing an affidavit sworn to before the Army Judge Advocate with respect to his civil condition and ability to marry;

2. Certificate of the officer in command of the unit to which the future husband belongs and insuring the accuracy of his declarations;

3. In the case of divorce, production of the certificate of the competent court showing that a decree of divorce has been issued and that the decision is final.

Besides the formalities knowledge of which should be given to the bride there would be two guarantees of another order:

• First. Notification to The Adjutant General of the Army at Washington of all marriages of American soldiers in French territory;
• Next. The bill which the Federal Government proposes to introduce in Congress and by virtue of which any perjury committed in an affidavit relative to the said marriage would be repressed upon the return to America of the soldier guilty of that criminal act [sic].

The Government of the Republic is thankful to the Federal Government for the attention it kindly gave to this question and the care with which it has taken appropriate measures to remedy abuses from which some of our country-women might have suffered.

In order to be enabled to make these useful provisions apt to facilitate marriages of French women and Americans publicly known my Government expresses a wish to receive an official assurance that they exist.

I therefore have the honor to ask of Your Excellency that you kindly confirm the above stated indications which, save error or omission on my part, appear to sum up the whole of the rules laid down for the marriages which American soldiers may happen to contract in France.