Filed by Franklin Templeton International Trust
                                   on behalf of Templeton Global Long-Short Fund
                          Pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act of 1933.
                                     Subject Company:  Franklin Strategic Series
                                      on behalf of Franklin U.S. Long-Short Fund
                                                             File No. 333-141565




                         FRANKLIN U.S. LONG-SHORT FUND



                              IMPORTANT REMINDER:

                 PLEASE VOTE YOUR SHARES BEFORE AUGUST 14, 2007


                                                                  July 23, 2007


Dear Shareholder:


We recently  mailed you proxy  materials  relating to a proposal to be voted on
at a Special  Meeting  of  Shareholders  of the Fund  scheduled  for August 14,
2007.  As of the date of this letter, we have not received your vote.



                            YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT!


For the  reasons  set forth in the proxy  materials  previously  mailed to you,
THE FUND'S  BOARD OF TRUSTEES  BELIEVES  THE  PROPOSAL IS IN THE  SHAREHOLDERS'
BEST INTEREST AND UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE IN FAVOR.

We encourage you to vote TODAY using one of the following convenient options:

1.    VOTE BY PHONE.  You may cast your vote by calling  the  toll-free  number
      listed  on the  enclosed  proxy  card.  Have your  proxy  card in hand in
      order to follow the recorded instructions.
2.    VOTE  ONLINE.  You may cast your  vote by  logging  onto the Web  address
      listed on the enclosed proxy card.  Have your proxy card in hand in order
      to follow the instructions given on the Web site.
3.    VOTE BY MAIL.  You may cast  your  vote by mail by  signing,  dating  and
      mailing the enclosed proxy card in the  postage-prepaid  return  envelope
      provided.

If you have any questions  about the  proposal,  you may call The Altman Group,
Inc., the Fund's proxy  solicitation  firm, toll free at (800)  823-9047.  As a
helpful  reminder,  you may receive a call from a representative  of The Altman
Group  encouraging  you to vote.  When you provide  instructions  to The Altman
Group by phone or online,  The Altman Group will be  authorized to deliver your
proxy on your behalf.




                  YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT! PLEASE VOTE TODAY!


FRANKLIN U.S. LONG-SHORT FUND'S SHAREHOLDERS ARE ADVISED TO READ THE
PROSPECTUS/PROXY STATEMENT AND OTHER PROXY MATERIALS, WHICH HAVE BEEN FILED
WITH THE U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION (THE "SEC"), BECAUSE THEY
CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION.  THE PROSPECTUS/PROXY STATEMENT, AND OTHER
DOCUMENTS FILED BY TEMPLETON GLOBAL LONG-SHORT FUND, A SERIES OF FRANKLIN
TEMPLETON INTERNATIONAL TRUST, ARE AVAILABLE FOR FREE AT THE SEC'S WEBSITE
(WWW.SEC.GOV) OR BY CALLING TEMPLETON GLOBAL LONG-SHORT FUND AT 1-800-DIALBEN
(1-800-342-5236).