Mr. Uhl to Mr. Hengelmüller.
Washington, May 22, 1895.
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your note of the 16th instant, in further relation to your inquiry of May 1, touching the naturalization of Friedrich Hellebrand.
In my reply to you, of the 8th instant, I noted the discrepancy in the spelling, to which your present note adverts, but, not clearly perceiving how the submission of a passport issued by this Department in favor of Mr. Hillebrandt could enlighten the inquiry of your note as to whether Mr. Hellebrand has been naturalized a citizen of the United States, I naturally inferred that the passport and your inquiry related to the same person and that the variation was a mere slip of the pen, especially as you spoke of the inclosure as “the passport of the above named” (Hellebrand).
Should a case of disputed indentity be presented, raising doubt as to whether the actual possessor of the passport issued to Frederick Hillebrandt is the person therein mentioned, a case of fraudulent impersonation of the rightful owner of a genuine passport would arise, which this Government would be happy to assist in investigating through its legation in Austria-Hungary, and in regard to which it would adopt such course as the facts developed would warrant.
It is submitted, however, that your note of the 1st instant does not present such a case for consideration, and seems to admit of no other response than that already made, namely, that the passport, No. 3897, issued to Frederick Hillebrandt, is what it purports to be, a genuine certification of the citizenship of the person to whom it was lawfully issued.
Accept, etc.,
Acting Secretary