Mr. Ryan to Mr. Gresham.
Mexico, May 1, 1893. (Received May 9.)
Sir: Mr. Martin Schafer, of this city, has applied for a passport at this legation for himself and his wife for the purpose of travel to Europe.
[Page 423]Mr. Schafer in his application as a native citizen of the United States for said passport represents:
That he was horn at Hamburg, Germany, on the 12th day of March, 1858; that his father is a native citizen of the United States; that he is domiciled in Mexico City, his permanent residence being at Mexico City, Mexico, where he has resided continuously fourteen years last past, and where he follows the occupation of jeweler; that he has visited the United States three different times at intervals of several years, remaining there each time from four weeks to two months, but never resided there; that he is the bearer of Passport No. 11, issued by the United States legation, Mexico City, on the 11th day of December, 1886; that he intends to return to Germany via the United States in a few days temporarily, for a brief visit, and then return to his residence here.
Mr. Schafer, in addition to his passport No. 11, above referred to, which was issued to him by United States Minister Thomas C. Manning holds also a Mexican certificate of American nationality, No. 2071, of date February 14, 1888, issued by the foreign office under the Mexican law on foreigners, etc., of May 28, 1886 (Chapter V, article 2). Chargé J. Lamatte Morgan’s No. 241, of June 10, 1886, submitted the law to the Department.
In addition to the facts set forth in his application Mr. Schafer stated to me that he intends to reside in Mexico City permanently in the future; that his father left the United States when a young man and has resided in Germany for many years last past; that he thinks his father’s father, a native of Germany, was a naturalized American citizen.
Upon the facts stated I do not feel authorized to issue to Mr. Schafer a passport, but he is a very worthy gentleman, and sincerely believes himself to be under our laws a citizen of the United States, and that he may be deprived of none of his lawful rights in the premises I transmit herewith his application in duplicate and a passport duly executed for such disposition as the Department may seem proper. Mr. Schafer will leave here for Germany, via the United States, in a few days, and begs the Department will forward the passport to him at 97 Water street, New York City, care of Theodore Herrmann, should its issue be deemed authorized by law. The fee of $1 paid by Mr. Schafer will be held in this legation subject to your decision.
I am, etc.,