Mr. White to Mr. Hay.

No. 1836.]

Sir: I have the honor to inform you that I refused to issue a new passport to one Schabsel Reif on the 23d instant. The applicant was born at Kellem, in Russia, in 1852, emigrated to the United States in 1884, and lived there for ten years, becoming naturalized in 1890. In 1894 he returned to Europe and has since that time resided in Germany near the Russian frontier.

On July 28, 1896, he made application for a passport at the embassy through the consular agent at Koenigsberg, stating that he would return to the United States to live within “the next two years.” On the 12th of August, after a good deal of correspondence, a passport was issued to him (No. 202), and he was warned that “if he did not return to the United States at the time sworn to in his application, no further passport would be issued to him from the embassy.”

In his present application it appears that he did not return to the United States within two years from that date, that he has not yet returned there, and that he now desires to remain for two years longer in Germany. Although given an opportunity to do so, he gives no reason for his failure to carry out his previously expressed intention or for his wishing to prolong his residence in Germany. I have there fore refused to issue a new passport to him.

I have, etc.,

And. D. White.