Alphonso Taft to Frelinghuysen, May 13, 1884

No. 8. Mr. Taft to Mr. Frelinghuysen.

Sir: I have the honor to report the case of Vitus Taxacher, who was released from military service here on my application. The principle on which the case turns had been recently discussed with the foreign office of this Empire, but I think that this is the first case which has arisen where the facts directly involved the point and were acted upon.

Taxacher was summoned for examination for military service, being of the proper age, and was found not then competent, but was ordered to return in one year for further examination. During that year he emigrated to America, and there remained long enough to be naturalized.

Afterwards he came back to his native home in Austria to visit his relations, where he was immediately enrolled in the Austrian army and made to serve as a soldier.

After he had been some months in the service, he, through an attorney, applied to me to know whether he had any remedy.

I presented the case to the foreign office in a dispatch, a copy of which I inclose, and received an answer thereto, the letter of the secretary of state of the Empire, of which I also inclose a copy. Agreeably thereto Taxacher was promptly discharged.

I have, &c.,