Office of the Historian

Mr. McCormick to Mr. Hay.

United States Legation,
Vienna, May 7, 1902.
No. 82.]

Sir: I have the honor to report the following case of application for a passport and to ask the Department’s instructions with reference to same.

Although of the opinion that I should grant the application in view of an instruction, No. 52, by Mr. Sherman to Mr. Storer, minister at Brussels, and dated November 8, 1897, I ask for the Department’s instructions, as it is not a case in which immediate action is necessary.

A. M. Alexander, the father of the applicant, Theodor F. Alexander, emigrated to the United States from Prussia, sailing from Hamburg on the 15th day of May, 1854, and resided eighteen years uninterruptedly in the United States to 1872, and was naturalized as a citizen of the United States before the superior court of the city of New York, at New York, on October 1, 1860, as shown by certificate of naturalization presented at this legation. In 1872 he, A. M. Alexander, left the United States and has since that time resided in Europe, having been, until about six years ago, the junior partner in the firm of Alexander Brothers, of New York City, and representing that firm as buyer in Europe, and residing in Dresden until 1876, when he removed to Vienna, which city has been since then and is now his home. He has visited the United States but once since 1872. His son, Theodor F. Alexander, who now applies for a passport, was born in Vienna on April 22, 1881, and has just become of age and declares that it is his intention to go to the United States within two years with the purpose of residing and performing the duties of citizenship therein. He is a student at the University of Vienna and will take his degree in the month of June, 1904, a little over the two years within which he declares that it is his intention to go to the United States, but as I construe the purpose of this declaration and considering the object of the young man’s remaining here until June, 1904, it is within the spirit of the regulations. Moreover, A. M. Alexander states that he has three sons who were born in the United States, are now residing, have spent most of their [Page 68] lives there, and who have undertaken to secure employment for the youngest son, Theodor, on the completion of his studies at the university. I have stated to Mr. A. M. Alexander that, subject to the approval of the Department, I will issue a passport to the son. For the further information of the Department and in support of the above I have the honor to inclose herewith a statement of Mr. A. M. Alexander over his signature.

I have the honor, etc.,

Robert S. McCormick.
[Inclosure.]

Statement of A. M. Alexander with reference to his son’s application for a passport.

With reference to my long residence in Europe, beginning with the year 1872, I have to make the following statement: I was junior partner in the firm of Alexander Brothers, of New York, and I came over to buy goods for that firm, going to Dresden, where I remained for four years, visiting America once in the meantime. In 1876 I removed to Vienna, where I have represented the above firm until about six years ago, when I retired from business, and have not been in America since 1876. My son, Theodor F. Alexander, who was born here in Vienna in 1881, is a student at the Vienna University and will complete his studies and take his degree in June, 1904, when it is his intention, as well as mine, that he shall go to the United States, where his brothers, who were born in the United States and who have spent most of their lives there, have undertaken to secure employment for him. I solemnly declare the above statement to be true, and make it for the purpose of assisting my son to secure a passport.

A. M. Alexander.