[Extract.]
Mr. Wright to Mr.
Seward.
No. 28.]
Legation of the United States,
Berlin,
April 18, 1866.
Sir: Upon the receipt of your despatch, (No.
20,) dated January 31th, 1866, I promptly called Count Bismarck’s
attention to the case of Simon Israel. This case was reported to the
department by Mr. Judd, in his despatch No. 64, dated May 4, 1864, and
referred to by the undersigned in despatches Nos. 6 and 10. I was
greatly disappointed on receiving Baron Thile’s reply. Count Bismarck is
unable to attend to business, and when he is able the present condition
of affairs between Prussia and Austria require all his time and
strength. I enclose herewith a copy of my first note and Baron Thile’s
reply, and also mine of yesterday. If this answer is not favorable I
shall seek an interview with his Majesty. It is most infamous to treat
an American citizen in this manner, and no efforts shall be spared to
bring about his release. My faith, however, is strong that when Count
Bismarck is in possession of the facts of the case, Israel will be at
once discharged. * * * *
Time has confirmed my former expressed opinion on the subject of the
difficulties between Prussia and Austria. Several notes have passed
between the two countries, although not made public.
The general opinion in diplomatic circles, and the condition of the stock
market, seem to indicate more pacific measures.
I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward,
Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.
Mr. Wright to Count Bismarck.
United States Legation,
Berlin,
February 21, 1866.
Monsieur le Comte: The undersigned has the
honor to call the attention of your excellency to the case of Simon
Israel, formerly a Prussian subject, but now an American citizen.
The said Israel emigrated to America in 1853 and remained there over
ten years; returned to Prussia in 1863, to the place of his birth,
(Chadizsen, province of Posen,) where he was seized by the
authorities, taken to Stettin, and placed in the fourth company,
fourteenth regiment of the Prussian army. The said Israel is now
unable to perform the duties of a soldier, as he has the hernia, and
his eyesight has become impaired, both occasioned since he has been
in the Prussian army.
The undersigned would most respectfully beg the intervention of your
excellency’s kind offices in order to obtain the release of the said
Israel. He has already served about two years in the Prussian army,
has relatives in America, and his business is suffering from his
long absence.
The undersigned doubts not but that as soon as the attention of his
Majesty’s government is called to the case of Mr. Israel, he will be
at once released.
I take this occasion to renew to your excellency the assurances of my
high consideration.
His Excellency Count Bismarck,
Pres’t of the Council, Minister for Foreign
Affairs,
&c.
[Translation.]
Baron Thile to Mr. Wright.
In his note of the 21st of February last Mr. Wright, envoy
extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary of the United States,
called the attention of the government of his Majesty to
[Page 16]
the case of Simon Israel, a
Prussian subject born at Chadizsen, province of Posen, who, after
having gone to America in 1854, returned to Prussia in 1862, and was
placed in the army the 17th of March, 1864.
The undersigned called the attention of the minister of war to the
request of Mr. Wright to obtain the liberation of the said person.
This minister regrets not being able to acquiesce in the desire of
the American minister.
The said Israel has been absent about eight and a quarter years; that
is, from the 7th of February, 1854, (the date of his passport,) till
July, 1862, consequently he has not lost his Prussian nationality.
It is true he has a slight hernia, and has also been treated for the
sore eyes, (mal aux yeux contagieux,) but his condition is not such
as to render him unfit for military service. He has no relatives in
America; he is a partner in a commercial house at San Francisco.
which he estimates at $4,000. His conduct in the regiment has not
been, up to this time, sufficiently irreproachable to justify his
release.
In bringing these facts to the knowledge of Mr. Wright, the
undersigned profits by the occasion to offer the assurance of his
high consideration.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, (By
authority,)
Mr. Joseph A. Wright,
&c., &c., &c.
Mr. Wright to Count Bismarck.
United States Legation,
Berlin,
April 16, 1866.
The United States minister, Mr. Wright, has the honor to acknowledge
the receipt of Baron Thile’s note of the 14th instant, in reference
to the case of Simon Israel, an American citizen, at this time
serving in the Prussian army at Stettin. He deems it his imperative
duty to immediately call the attention of his Majesty’s government
to a reconsideration, as it is most manifest the real condition and
facts, as applicable to Mr. Israel’s case, are misapprehended.
The brother of said Israel and others have informed the undersigned
that Simon Israel went to America in the spring of 1853, and did not
return to Prussia in the year 1862, but in the fall of 1863, and
consequently was absent from Prussia over ten years. The undersigned
has received the following information in relation to the treatment,
condition, and health of Mr. Israel from the United States consul at
Stettin.
These are principally the statements of the said Israel, yet the
consul has been acquainted with the individual from the time he
entered the army till the present time.
I consider it to be my duty to give his Majesty’s government the
information thus communicated. The consul says: “Pitiful as was his
first tale of how he had been dragged away from his relatives, to
whom he was on a visit, after an absence of more than ten years in
the United States, the treatment he received in the regiment nearly
drove the tears into my eyes. It is now over two years that he has
been held in compulsory service, and he has thereby been made a
cripple perhaps for the whole of his life, having been compelled to
exercise which his body could not endure. By some gymnastical
evolutions and jumping feats both of his loins were dislodged in
some way, and he now wears a truss or bandage all around his body to
prevent their swelling. First, he says the jumping caused him pain
in one side, when he complained, but was answered by the instructing
officer that he must ‘jump or go to hell.’ Continuing to complain,
however, he was examined by the surgeon and a truss applied to the
side injured. Then he had to take up the evolutions again, and was
kept at jumping until the other side got hurt in like way, and he
now wears the bandages above stated. Being now pronounced unable to
drill any longer, any other man, he says, would have been mustered
out and allowed a pension, but when he asked for his release he was
answered that he must serve the whole time (namely, three years) as
a punishment for having gone to America to evade the military
service. He was seventeen when he left for America. His situation
was such he could not drill, and he was ordered to learn tailoring
so as to mend the company’s clothing. Unused to this kind of work,
at which he was kept constantly for several months, his eyesight
became impaired and he was placed in the hospital, where he was
treated for nine weeks, the physicians expressing fears that he
would lose the use of his eyes altogether. He has now been out of
the hospital seven weeks, but says his eyes are so weak that he can
scarcely read. Notwithstanding his limbs disable him from drilling
and exercising, and his eyesight does not allow him to work at
tailoring, he is still kept in a soldier’s garb and his name is
retained on the roll, and is subjected to all the rules of the
military service and barracks, and the rest of the time he is
permitted to run about the streets doing nothing. Such is the sad
statement of his case, and which I have no reason to disbelieve. I
looked at his limbs and eyes and saw plainly how they had been
affected and weakened since he called on me in 1864.”
From the above statement of his condition, in fact upon that stated
as to his health by
[Page 17]
the
minister of war, it is most difficult to imagine what service this
unfortunate man can render the Prussian army.
The undersigned cannot for a moment doubt that upon a reconsideration
of this case his Majesty’s government will at once restore him to
his adopted country, friends, and business, thus giving additional
evidence of the earnest desire of his Majesty’s government to
strengthen the long-cherished friendship and good will which have so
happily existed between the government, of Prussia and the United
States.
In submitting this case I beg you, dear count, to receive the renewed
assurance of my distinguished consideration.
His Excellency Count Bismarck,
&c., &c.,
&c.
