Mr. Hitchcock to
Mr. Sherman.
Legation of the United States,
St. Petersburg, December 22,
1897.
No. 8.]
Sir: Referring to your No. 485 of November 9, I
have the honor to inclose herewith copy of a note of this legation of
November 26/December 8, and of the reply of the Imperial Government
thereto, dated December 20.
It appears from Count Lamsdorff’s note that the five years’ service
referred to by the Imperial legation at Washington is not in lieu of the
criminal liability incurred under article 325 of the Penal Code for the
offense of becoming a naturalized citizen of a foreign country without
permission of the Imperial Government, and that condition, as regards
military service, applies to all subjects of the Empire irrespective of
religion, and hence extends to Jews.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure 1 in No. 8.]
Mr. Breckinridge to Count Mouravieff.
Legation of the United States,
St. Petersburg, December 8, 1897.
Your Excellency: I have the honor to
inclose a copy of a letter from the Imperial legation at Washington
of October 20/November 1, sent me by my Government, with
instructions to inquire if the conditions of five years’ service in
the Russian army, therein referred to, is
[Page 439]
in lieu of the criminal liability under
article 325 of the Penal Code for the offense of becoming a
naturalized citizen of a foreign country without Imperial consent,
and whether the same condition of return extends to Jews?
It may be observed that the communication from the Imperial legation
was sent to the Department of State by the applicant in the usual
course of correspondence about his desires to procure a permit to
return to Russia on a visit; but that its failure to mention the
liabilities formerly given as imposed suggested the inquiry as to
the present status of the law on the subject.
I avail myself, etc.,
[Inclosure 2 in No.
8.—Translation.]
Count Lamsdorff
to Mr. Hitchcock.
Imperial Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
Department of
Internal Relations,
St.
Petersburg, December 8/20,
1897.
Mr. Minister: Referring to the note of
November 21/ December 8, I hasten to communicate to you that the
five years of military service mentioned in the letter of Mr.
Zelenoi are not in lieu of the penalties established by article 325
of the Penal Code for unlawful abandonment of Russian subjection.
All the subjects of the Empire, without distinction of religion, are
held to serve during that time under the flag.
Accept, etc.,
