44 
become 18 years of age, by the officials of the 
community in which they reside in Poland or 
by the Polish consul in whose district they 
reside abroad. Registration is compulsory. The 
draft takes place between May 1 and June 30. 
Supplemental drafts may be made at other 
times during the year. Conscripts are usually 
called for service in October. 
It is understood that under the Polish na¬ 
tionality law of January 20, 1920, effective 
January 31, 1920, persons born in the United 
States of Polish parents prior to January 31, 
1920, are not regarded by Poland as Polish 
citizens. Those, however, who were born in the 
United States on or after January 31, 1920, of 
Polish parents, are regarded by Poland as Polish 
citizens. 
Concerning naturalized citizens, it is under¬ 
stood that persons who would have become Pol¬ 
ish citizens under the Polish nationality law of 
January 20, 1920 (effective January 31, 1920), 
but who were naturalized as citizens of the 
United States prior to the effective date of the 
law are not regarded by Poland as Polish citi¬ 
zens. Polish citizens liable to military service 
who were naturalized as American citizens on 
or after January 31, 1920, are regarded by 
Poland as Polish citizens and as liable to active 
military service, unless consent has been ob¬ 
tained from the Polish authorities for the acqui¬ 
sition of foreign citizenship. However, it may 
be stated that former citizens of the Russian 
Empire who acquired American citizenship 
after January 31, 1920, and who on April 30, 
45 
1921, were outside of Polish territory and did 
not exercise their right of option for Polish 
citizenship provided for in the treaty of Riga, 
never acquired Polish citizenship and therefore 
are not liable for military service. 
It is understood that under article 88 of the 
Polish military service law of March 8, 1928, 
persons having Polish citizenship under Polish 
law who can prove that they acquired American 
citizenship by birth in the United States or 
were naturalized as citizens of the United States 
with the consent of the Polish authorities, are 
not subject to military obligations as from the 
time of the submission of such proof. 
There is no treaty between the United States 
and Poland defining the status while in Poland 
of former Polish citizens who have become 
American citizens. Therefore, it may be de¬ 
sirable for such persons before going to Poland 
to ascertain whether they may be held for mili¬ 
tary service by that country. It is suggested 
that this information may be sought from the 
Polish Government direct or through Polish 
diplomatic or consular officers. This Depart¬ 
ment does not act as the intermediary in such 
requests. 
49. RUMANIA. According to the Law of 
Recruitment of 1930 only Rumanian subjects 
can be recruited and incorporated into the 
Rumanian Army. 
Naturalized American citizens, formerly Ru¬ 
manian subjects who left the country when 
they were of recruiting age or who, having been 
