The Acting Secretary of State to Ambassador Tower.
Washington , May 29, 1905 .
Sir: I have to acknowledge the receipt of your dispatch No. 671, of the 11th instant, reporting a case which recently occurred at the American consulate in Solingen, in which the American vice and deputy consul, Mr. Victor W. Heldt, was summoned to appear before the Amtsgericht in Solingen in a civil suit. It appears as a result (of the course taken by you) in the matter that Mr. Heldt declared to the court his readiness to appear and give his testimony in compliance with a request of the court, but declined at the same time to answer the summons which contained the paragraph relating to a fine and imprisonment. It further appears that the court, on receipt of Mr. Heldt’s reply, requested him to appear as a witness, and entered on its minutes that he could not be summoned, but had appeared at the request of the court.
The incident may, therefore, be regarded to be satisfactorily closed, as you indicate in your dispatch.
I am, sir, etc.,