Mr. Runyon to Mr.
Olney
.
Embassy
of the United States,
Berlin
,
September 2,
1895
. (Received Sept. 18.)
No. 355.]
Sir: I have the honor to inclose herewith a
copy of a note to-day addressed by me to the Imperial foreign office,
relative to an indorsement [Page 540]
made on a passport issued by the Department of State to one Jacob Malin
Weiler, by the local police officials of Sorau, Prussia, stating that
Mr. Weiler had been expelled from Prussian territory in March, 1894. Our
consul at Leipsic, at which place Mr. Weiler now is, states that the
cause of the expulsion was that Mr. Weiler was a Mormon, but of the
expulsion no complaint has been made. The value of the passport has,
however, been so impaired by this indorsement—Mr. Weiler stating that on
account of it he has met with continual difficulties—that he deemed it
expedient to apply for a new one, although the one held had not
expired.
Under the circumstances, I felt it my duty to bring the matter to the
attention of the German Government in order, if possible, to prevent for
the future the making, by any German official, of similar indorsements
upon other American passports.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure in No. 355.]
Mr. Runyon to
Baron Marschall
.
Embassy of the United States,
Berlin
,
September 2, 1895
.
The undersigned, ambassador, etc., of the United States of America,
has the honor to inclose herewith, with the request that it be
ultimately returned, to His Excellency Baron Marschall von
Bieberstein, Imperial secretary of state for foreign affairs, a
passport issued by the Department of State at Washington, to Mr.
Jacob Malin Weiler, a citizen of the United States of America. As
will appear by inspection, there has been indorsed on it by a German
official a statement, under seal, of the expulsion from Prussian
territory of Mr. Weiler. It may be remarked that the cause or ground
of expulsion does not appear, but it is said to be on account of his
religion. No question, however, is now raised on that head.
The indorsement referred to has so impaired the value of the
passport, not only in other parts of Germany, but everywhere else,
that Mr. Weiler has been compelled to take out a new one.
The undersigned respectfully requests that his excellency will cause
such directions to be given as to prevent in the future the making
by any German official upon an American passport of any indorsement
or statement except a vise, and avails himself, etc.,
[Subinclosure in No.
355.]
Passport No. 6289, issued by the Department of State, Washington, D.
C., on January 2, 1894, to Jacob Malin Weiler, upon which was
indorsed:
[Translation.]
“Expelled from Prussian territory by direction of the Royal
Government president at Frankfort on the Oder, of March 27,
1894.
