Chargé Schuyler to the Secretary of State.
Sinaia, October 12, 1906.
Sir: In reply to the department’s instruction No. 12, Servian series, of May 10, 1906, inclosing a copy of a letter from Mr. Milorad J. Pavlovitch, a naturalized citizen of the United States of Servian origin, relative to the collection from his parents of an army tax by the Servian authorities, I have the honor to state that I have just received a communication from the Servian ministry for foreign affairs stating that Pavlovitch can not be exempted from the tax unless he furnishes proof that he has ceased to be a Servian subject in the manner prescribed by Servian law.
I may add for the information of the department that according to section 44 of the Civil Code and the regulations of May 24, 1844, if a Servian subject wishes to be naturalized in a foreign country and to relinquish his Servian citizenship, he must first obtain a certificate from the competent foreign authority stating that he will be received into citizenship in the foreign country in question as soon as he gets his permission to leave Servian citizenship. He must then apply for his permission to the proper district prefect, giving the foreign certificate and legalized proof that he has fulfilled all his duties and obligations to the state, his community “zadruga,” family, and the other inhabitants of his community, or has come to an understanding with them. The prefect, after satisfying himself of the truth of the statements made, shall send the application to the ministry of the interior. If the ministry grant the application it must then be legalized by the ministry for foreign affairs. The applicant’s name shall then be erased from the list of Servian subjects.
I inclose herewith the receipt transmitted with the department’s instructions above referred to.
I have, etc.,
Chargé d’Affaires ad interim.