WAR DEPARTMENT,
WASHINGTON,

February 19, 1919.

Honorable T. W. Bickett,
Governor of North Carolina,
Raleigh, N.C.

My dear Governor:

In reply to your letter of February 1st which has reference to the action of the War Department in the matter of draft deserters and delinquents, and with which you have enclosed copies of letter from Mr. J. W. Winborne of Marion, N.C., I beg to advise you that this matter has been the subject of very careful inquiry and consideration in the War Department since the middle of December.

It has taken time to determine definitely the total numbers who would be affected by the desired War Department policy in this matter and also the character and limitations of the offense, between the wide limits of willful desertion and inadvertent delinquency. The policy of the War Department has now been published in the form of Circular #75 dated February 10th, copies of which are enclosed for your information.

It is to be hoped that a firm and consistent application of these instructions will satisfactorily meet the points which you have so clearly set forth.

A letter on this same subject has been received from Senator Overman from your State and has been replied to in accordance with the above. Copies of the letters from Mr. Winborne have been retained for the War Department files.

Thanking you for having brought this matter to the attention of the War Department, I am,

Yours very sincerely,

Newton D. Baker,
Secretary of War.

2 incls.

Enclosure: 1919, Feb. 10. Circular No # 75.