[Inclosure.]
1. Herman F. Dietmann (see dispatch, No. 534, of August 29, 1898)
requested the embassy, under date of June 22, 1899, to use its good
offices to the end that the permission already granted him to remain
in Prussia until July 1, 1899, might be extended until September 15.
After preliminary correspondence with Mr. Dietmann, the embassy
intervened in his behalf (F. O., No. 523), on June 27, and under
date of August 2, a reply from the foreign office stated that the
desired extension had been granted.
2. Alfred Knudsen presented his case in person at the embassy on July
19, 1899, and intervention (F. O., No. 536) was at once made in his
behalf, and permission requested for him, in accordance with his
wish, to be allowed to return to his former home at Wyk a. Föhr, and
to remain there for one week at some time before September 1.
“Knudsen was born at Wyk in 1867, and when about 14 years of age
emigrated with his mother and sister to the United States, where he
became naturalized as a citizen at Chicago, in 1892. He returned on
a visit to Germany in June in order to see his relatives. On July 3
he received an order to leave Prussian territory within three days,
and with this order he had immediately complied.
No answer being received from the foreign office, and the time before
Knudsen’s intended return to the United States growing short,
intervention was renewed (F. O., No. 557) on August 16, and on the
19th a verbal communication was received (which was confirmed by the
foreign office’s note of August 22) to the effect that the desired
visit would be permitted.
After Knudsen had returned to the United States the embassy received
a request from him to effect the return of certain money paid by him
as a military fine on June 26, and the embassy’s intervention to
this end (F. O., No. 594) is still pending.
3. Joseph Rinehart’s case (see dispatch, No. 972, of August 3, 1899)
was brought to the attention of the foreign office (F. O., No. 559)
on August 19, after correspondence first with the consulate-general
at Frankfort, and then with Mr. Rinehart himself. Upon Mr.
Rinehart’s informing the embassy that he had again been threatened
with expulsion, intervention was renewed (F. O., No. 579) on
September 19, and eventually, under date of October 16, a reply was
received from the foreign office to the effect that permission had
been granted to remain in Prussia until November 15, as had been
requested.
4. George Rosebrock’s case was brought to the attention of the
embassy by Acting Consul Murphy (Bremen) on November 3, 1899, and
intervention was at once made. Rosebrock, who had in his possession
the certificate of his American naturalization and a United States
passport, had been ordered to leave Prussian territory under date of
October 17. He had emigrated to the United States, with his parents,
when about 16 years of age, and had returned to Prussia with an
intention to remain a few months only. On December 17, the foreign
office informed the embassy that Rosebrock would be allowed to
remain in Prussia until January 1, 1900, but no longer.
5. John Martin Munsch (see dispatch, No. 1118, of December 18, 1899),
an American citizen of Alsatian origin, was,
as stated in a note from the foreign office, dated December 27,
sentenced in 1887, on account of evasion of military duty, to pay a
fine of 600 marks, or to be imprisoned for forty days. He was
arrested at Gebweiler on October 24, and as he did not pay the fine
he was compelled to serve his time. Should he wish to remain in
Alsace, permission to do so temporarily would probably be granted
him upon his application to the local imperial authorities.
6. The foreign office has communicated with the royal Prussian
authorities in regard to the embassy’s wish to support the petition
made by the family of Hugo Wagner (dispatch, No. 1117, December 18,
1899), as requested by the embassy (F. O., No. 634), on December
22.
