Prince Wrede to Mr. Olney.

[Translation.]

Mr. Secretary of State: The question is being debated in the Royal Hungarian ministry of the interior as to whether Emanuel Kohn, who was born in Pressburg in 1871; Samuel Benjamin Kohn, who was born in the same place in 1872, and Ephraim Kohn, who was likewise born in Pressburg in 1876, are to be regarded as citizens of the United States.

The proceedings instituted in the case showed that Aaron Kohn, the father of the persons named, emigrated to America in the year 1886, and in the year 1888 procured the legal letter of citizenship (certificate of declaration of intention?). The latter is also true of Samuel Benjamin Kohn, and is likewise asserted as to Emanuel Kohn.

I have the honor to inclose to your excellency duplicates of the letters of citizenship (Bürgerbriefe) of the two former, with the request that you will kindly return them when you have done with them.

In view of the provisions of Article I of the convention of September 20, 1870, between the Imperial and Royal Monarchy and the United States, for the regulation of citizenship, two conditions are, in the opinion of the royal Hungarian ministry of the interior, expressly attached to the procuring of citizenship in the United States, to wit, a residence of at least five years in the United States, and the procuring of a letter of citizenship (Bürgerbrief) during that time.

According to this, the procuring of citizenship in the United States, and the loss of Hungarian nationality, which is indissolubly connected therewith, would not be complete until the expiration of five years, even if the party had already previously obtained his letter of citizenship (Bürgerbrief); hence, Aaron Kohn, who emigrated to America in the month of October, 1886, did not cease to be a Hungarian subject until the month of October, 1891.

For the same reason his eldest son, Emanuel Kohn, who was only 20 years old in 1891, and who was, consequently, according to the laws of both Hungary and the United States, still a minor, and his two younger brothers would not have obtained citizenship in the United States, and thereby lost their Hungarian nationality, until the year 1891, at the same time as their father, owing to the change of nationality effected in his person.

The Royal Hungarian ministry of the interior wishes now to learn whether the United States Government shares this view, especially with regard to the point of time of the attainment of the citizenship. The said ministry further desires, in view of the fact that the cases of [Page 14] the attainment of citizenship in the United States, by minors especially, are increasing in number, to be informed of the most important regulations in force in the United States with regard to naturalization, particularly with respect to minors, and the existing practice in such matters.

I have, therefore, the honor to request of your excellency a kind reply to the questions put by the Royal Hungarian ministry of the interior, and avail myself, etc.,

R. Wrede.