Mr. Beaupré to Mr. Hay.
Buenos Ayres, July 15, 1904.
Sir: Mr. William A. Tappen has applied to this legation for a passport, which I have declined to issue, but have agreed to submit the case for the Department’s consideration.
Mr. Tappen was born in Germany, emigrated to the United States in 1868, lived there until 1881, and was naturalized by the circuit court of St. Louis County, St. Louis, Mo., on May 29, 1876. He came to the Argentine Republic in 1882, returned to the United States in 1886, remained there about a year, and then came back to this country, where he has since resided uninterruptedly. For about ten years he was employed by this Government as inspector of locomotives, and is now actuary of a Buenos Ayres insurance company. He has no material interests in the United States, says that he would like to return and resume his duties of citizenship there, but that up to this time he has not found it possible to do so for pecuniary reasons. He holds passport No. 33 of this legation, issued August 1, 1890, at which time his naturalization papers were exhibited as evidence.
In 1886, while Mr. Tappen was visiting in the United States, his son Charles L. Tappen was born at St. Louis, Mo., and an authenticated certificate of his baptism in St. Louis is offered in evidence of this. The young man has also applied for a passport, and, as he is still a minor, I am inclined to think that he is entitled to it; but I have thought best to submit both cases to the Department before taking action. Charles L. Tappen came to this country with his father in 1887, and ever since has resided here. He has no definite plans as to his future, but expresses a desire to be able to live in the United States.
I am, etc.,