Office of the Historian

Mr. Porter to Mr. Hay.

Embassy of the United States,
Paris, January 2, 1902.
No. 945.]

Sir: At the request of the American Chamber of Commerce I send herewith a petition addressed to you representing that in many instances American citizens residing in Paris have been unable to obtain a passport, and asking that the regulation may be made less stringent in this respect.

I have, etc.,

Horace Porter.
[Inclosure.]

Petition of the American Chamber of Commerce of Paris to the Hon. John Hay, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.

Paris, November 6, 1901.

Whereas in recent years the number of citizens of the United States of America coining to France and residing in that country has considerably increased and very many are compelled to remain there either on account of the business conducted by them, or for family reasons, for protracted periods of time;

Whereas many of said citizens find that it is absolutely indispensable for them in traveling in some countries of Europe to carry with them a passport;

Whereas the application for such passport, when the same has been made to the ambassador of the United States at Paris, has in many instances been refused on the ground that the said citizens have been absent for a more or less protracted period from the United States, and at the time of such application have no actual residence there, and are furthermore not able to indicate when they intend to return to America;

Whereas such refusal of a passport deprive the said citizens of the United States of the protection of their Government, to which they claim they are justly entitled, and they in consequence suffer great hardship, and they and their families are subjected to grave and serious inconveniences and distress,

Whereas in some cases when it has been absolutely essential for such citizens in traveling in some countries of Europe and other continents to have some protection they have been compelled to apply to the French authorities for a French passport;

Whereas it is highly desirable that some remedy should be found and some relief obtained for such citizens from a condition which can not but be viewed with concern and regret by their own Government;

Now, therefore, the American Chamber of Commerce of Paris presents this humble petition to the Hon. John Hay, Secretary of State, and prays him to take the case of the aforesaid citizens into consideration and to adopt such measures and institute such steps as may afford them relief, and that regulations may be made in order that the citizens aforesaid may not be deprived of the protection of their Government.

  • Francis Kimbel,
    President.
  • Henry Peartree,
    Chairman of the Committee on Legal and Governmental Relations.