Speech #500039578

I wish to say that Fruchier is a citizen of my State. He is a native of France. who was naturalized in the United States. and he was impressed into the French military service some two years ago. I understand that there are other cases of this kind. and that the French Government takes the position that it will dispose of these cases through its judicial department. but does not dispose of them. I take this method of calling the attention of the Senate to it. The State Department has. I understand. called the attention of the French Government to several of these cases. It seems to me that it is certainly a great hardship to our citizens when they visit the place of their nativity to be impressed into the military service after having been naturalized in this country. I see no reason why the French Government should do it. for there are very few Frenchmen who are naturalized in other countries and who return to France. It can not affect their military service materially. and it is certainly a matter that this Government ought to look after. and it ought to protect its citizens so far as possible. My object in offering the resolution is to get the papers before the Senate so that they may be referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. to see if anything can be done.