Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, With the Annual Message of the President Transmitted to Congress December 6, 1904

Mr. Dodge to Mr. Hay.

American Embassy,
Berlin , November 12, 1904 .

No. 531.]

Sir: I have the honor to inclose herewith the passport of one Josef Henry Tetz (Department of State No. 9279, of June 24, 1904), as well as copies of letters from the consul-general at Hamburg, dated the 20th ultimo, and from the police authorities of that city, dated the 18th ultimo, the latter also with an English translation. From these letters this man appears to have made the following statements:

He was born at Memel, East Prussia, on March 5, 1881, of a father who has never been to the United States. In 1885 or 1886 he emigrated with relations to the United States, where he remained until 1890. He then returned to Germany and remained here continuously until the end of April, 1904, when he again went to the United States, remaining there until July last. While in the United States, during these three months, he claims to have been naturalized an American citizen, and he obtained the inclosed passport. When questioned by the consul-general as to how he obtained this passport, he was not able to give any precise information; neither was he able to give any information as to how he became naturalized, but declared that he had left his naturalization certificate with relations in Holland. I accordingly immediately requested the consul-general at Hamburg to secure and forward to the embassy, if possible, the naturalization certificate mentioned, and to-day I have been informed by him that Tetz declares that he has been unable to find this document in Holland. The consul-general adds: “So far as I am able to judge, he has never been in possession of one.” Under these circumstances, as it would seem that Tetz has no right to the passport in question, it is herewith returned for such further investigation and instructions in regard to this matter as may seem proper.

I have, etc.,

H. Percival Dodge.

[Inclosure 1.]

Mr. Pitcairn to Mr. Dodge.

American Consulate-General,
Hamburg , October 20, 1904 .

Sir: I have the honor to transmit herewith a copy of a letter which I have this day received from the Hamburg police department, stating that a passport issued to Josef Henry Tetz by the Department of State on June 24, 1904, bearing No. 9279, appears to have been obtained illegally.

Josef Tetz states that his father is not an American citizen, he never having been in the United States. He himself has only been in the United States from his third to seventh year, and when he was 23 years of age he went the United States from May to July, 1904, during which time his uncle, whose address he is no longer aware of, aided him to procure the passport, which I herewith inclose.

I have also cross-examined Tetz, and he has made the same statements to me as he has done to the police department. He says that he does not know what statements his uncle made in order to procure him the passport, he using as an excuse that he is not fluent with the English language.

I would respectfully request that the embassy instruct me as to what steps I am to take in the matter.

I have, etc.,

Hugh Pitcairn.

[Subinclosure.—Translation.]

Director of Police Doctor Roscher to Mr. Pitcairn.

Hamburg , October 18, 1904 .

The merchant Joseph Henry Tetz, born on the 5th of March, 1881, at Memel, in East Prussia, has reported himself here as a citizen of the United States of America, showing the inclosed passport as identity.

The person named is, according to investigation, a son of the native Russian merchant Moritz Tetz, who has lived in Memel uninterruptedly since the year 1865, and who has never lived in North America. Josef Henry Tetz, when questioned, stated that in the year 1885 or 1886—that is, at the age of 4 or 5 years—he went to New York with relations, remaining there until 1890. From 1890 until April of this year he has, according to his own statement, always lived in Germany. Then from May to July of the present year he says he was again in New York, and that during this time he acquired American citizenship. He states that he has left his naturalization certificate with relations in Holland.

Since doubt has arisen here whether Tetz has acquired American citizenship in a regular and legal manner, I have the honor to request that the consulate-general will kindly inform me whether Tetz is to be considered an American citizen.

Doctor Roscher.