No. 248.
Mr. Bancroft to Mr. Fish.
American
Legation,
Berlin
,
November 21, 1873. (Received December
11.)
No. 542.]
Sir: I received your instruction No. 626 just as I
was on the point of reporting the circumstances of the expulsion of three
persons from the district of Saarburg, mentioned in my No. 527, having had
my last interview on the subject with this government on the 19th.
The legation received, on August 1, a communication from Luxembourg, signed
Peter Puhl, Johann Wirtz, and Peter Blasius, complaining that they, American
citizens, had been ordered out of German territory.
The legation at once addressed a note in their behalf to the foreign office,
and subsequently, in a personal interview, and again in writing, renewed the
application. The legation was, meanwhile, left by the parties,
notwithstanding its repeated requests for definite information and proofs,
in great uncertainty as to the merits of the case.
When, therefore, the reply of the government was received, approving the
expulsion and assigning as its reason that the persons expelled had violated
the laws of the land by enticing laborers to emigrate, the legation could
make no further representation; nor have these persons, since they have been
informed of the ground of their expulsion, given any satisfactory account of
their real business in Germany although repeatedly urged to do so. They
have, however, remained in Luxembourg, just over the German border, whence
they have recently addressed to me a further appeal, still failing to state
what is the real business for which they wish td return to Saarburg.
The legation has taken great pains to solicit the facts from the
complainants, but without success. They confine themselves to affirming that
their business in Saarburg was not to entice workmen to emigrate, without
disclosing what is their object there.
On the other hand the German government has exhibited to me the reports of
its officials, and assures me that the matter has received the most thorough
and impartial investigation; that as the result of that investigation it
appears that these men were agents of manufacturers in America to induce the
emigration of workmen from Saarburg, where there are large manufacturing
establishments; that they pursued their agency with considerable success;
and that in the procedure they violated the laws of the kingdom.
Here there was a direct conflict of statement between the complainants
themselves and the German government which I was not able to reconcile; but,
on the one hand, the legation had only the naked denial of the men; on the
other, official documents reporting the results of the investigation.
I inclose copies of the notes exchanged with the government on the
subject.
I remain, &c.,
[Inclosure 1 in No. 542.]
Mr. Bliss to Mr.
Von Philipsborn.
American Legation,
Berlin
,
August 4,
1873.
The undersigned, chargé d’affaires of the United States of America, has
the honor to bring to the notice of his excellency Mr. Ton Philipsborn,
in charge of the foreign [Page 434]
office, the inclosed letter, signed by Peter Puhl, Johann Wirtz, and
Peter Blasius, who describe themselves as being American citizens,
temporarily sojourning in the district of Saarburg for purposes of
business, and complaining that they have been, without notice and
without any reason being assigned, forcibly expelled from German
territory. As this legation has received no notice from the imperial
government of ah intention to expel from its territory any citizens of
the United States, and no information of the grounds for the expulsion
of the persons in question, the undersigned entertains no doubt that the
proceeding complained of is the unauthorized act of merely subordinate
officials, and that the imperial government will take pleasure in
restoring his countrymen to the enjoyment of the hospitality which it
extends to foreigners within its borders. As the persons in question
have been forced to seek temporary refuge in Luxembourg, where they are
detained at great inconvenience and loss, the undersigned would be glad
to be as early as possible enabled by his excellency to assure them that
they may return in safety upon German soil.
The undersigned avails himself of this occasion to renew to his
excellency the assurance of his most distinguished consideration.
[Inclosure 2 in No. 542.]
Mr. Bancroft to Mr.
Von Philipsborn.
American Legation,
Berlin
,
September 9,
1873.
The undersigned, envoy of the United States of America, has the honor
once more to call the attention of his excellency Mr. Von Philipsborn,
in charge of the foreign office, to the case of three American citizens
in the district of Saarburg who, without assignment of any reason and
without notice to this legation, have been expelled from German
territory. The undersigned begs to refer to the communication on this
subject addressed to his excellency as long ago as the 4th day of August
last, and to the verbal renewal of the application on the 20th of
August, and expresses the hope that the earliest practicable steps will
be taken for the relief of his distressed countrymen.
The undersigned avails himself of this occasion to renew to his
excellency, Mr. Von Philipsborn, the assurance of his most distinguished
consideration.
[Inclosure 3 in No.
542.—Translation.]
Mr. Von Balan to
Mr. Bliss.
Berlin
,
September 18,
1873.
The undersigned has the honor to reply to the envoy extraordinary and
minister plenipotentiary of the United States of America, Mr. Bancroft,
while returning the inclosure of his letter, in answer to his esteemed
notes of the 4th and 9th instant, that according to the report of the
royal Prussian administration in Treves, Peter Blasius, John Wirz, and
Peter Puhl emigrated some years since from Nitten. Having returned
thither, they endeavored, by means of misleading representations and
promises, to entice Prussian subjects to emigrate. In concordance with
the provisions of the law, the above-mentioned persons consequently
received notice to quit the country for enticing Prussian subjects to
emigrate. The royal Prussian government, therefore, is not able to
permit the return of Peter Blasius, John Wirz, and Peter Puhl to the
kingdom.
Referring it to the envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary of
the United States of America to call the attention of the aforesaid
three persons to the illegality of their conduct, the undersigned takes
this opportunity to renew the assurance of his most distinguished
consideration.
