Mr. Day to Mr.
Tower.
Department of State,
Washington, February 19,
1898.
No. 75.]
Sir: I inclose for your information copies of
correspondence, as indicated below, with Messrs. McKinley & Gottlieb
relative to the case of Ignatz Gutman, an American citizen, residing in
the city of New York, who, while on a visit to Hungary, his native
country, was impressed into the Hungarian army at the city of
Losoncz.
I also inclose a certified copy of the record of the naturalization of
Joseph Gutman, the young man’s father, and an affidavit1 to the effect that his son came
to this country as a minor and is a citizen of the United States.
You are instructed to bring the matter to the attention of the foreign
office with the request that the subject may be promptly investigated,
with a view to having the young man discharged from the Hungarian army
as soon as possible.
Respectfully, yours,
William R. Day,
Acting Secretary.
[Inclosure 1 in No. 75.]
Messrs. McKinley &
Gottlieb to Mr. Sherman.
Sir: A client of ours, Ignatz Gutman, a
resident and a citizen of the United States and of the city of New
York, who is on a visit in Hungary, has been taken as a soldier into
the Hungarian army at the city of Losoncz.
He has been taken there under protest into the Twenty-fifth Regiment,
stationed at that city.
Said Gutman is 22 years of age; was a voter of this city. His father
and brothers are citizens of this State and of the United States. He
acquired his citizenship by the naturalization of his father, having
come to this country before he was 18 years of age.
We therefore kindly ask you to take such steps as are necessary to
procure his release from the Hungarian military service and for
safeguard to come back to this country.
If any proof is necessary please inform us, and we will send such
proof as required in order to obtain his release.
An early reply awaiting, we are, yours, most respectfully,
[Inclosure 2 in No. 75.]
Mr. Day to
Messrs. McKinley &
Gottlieb.
Department of State,
Washington, January 28,
1898.
Gentlemen: I have to acknowledge the
receipt of your letter of the 24th instant, asking for the
intervention of the Department on behalf of Mr. Ignatz Gutman,
alleged to be an American citizen, who has been drafted into the
Hungarian army at the city of Losoncz.
[Page 38]
In reply I have to inform you that it will be necessary for you to
furnish an authenticated copy of the father’s certificate of
naturalization, and evidence, under oath, that Mr. Ignatz Gutman
came to this country while a minor. The date of the birth of the
latter should be stated.
If the papers are found to be satisfactory, the United States
minister at Vienna will be promptly instructed to intervene in
behalf of your client.
Respectfully, yours,
William R. Day,
Assistant Secretary.
[Inclosure 3 in No. 75.]
Messrs. McKinley &
Gottlieb to Mr. Day.
New
York, February 15,
1898.
Sir: Yours of January 28, 1898, received.
According to instructions we herewith forward certified copies of
citizenship of the father of Ignatz Gutman, and also affidavits that
said Ignatz Gutman came to this country as a minor and is a citizen
of the United States.1
We kindly ask you to investigate this matter and to demand the
release of said Ignatz Gutman from the Hungarian army, where he is
serving.
A reply awaiting, we are, yours, most respectfully,
