Ganzenmüller to the legation of the United States, June 12, 1878

Mr. Ganzenmüller to the legation of the United States.

To the Legation of the United States, Berlin:

In answer to the letter of the honorable legation, I have the honor to inform it that the consul from Mannheim, Mr. Smith, has been to Sinsheim, and has spoken to the officer here in regard to my case of expulsion; but the only thing, I was told by the consul, for me to do was to write a petition, begging the authorities to let me stay here three months longer, but it would be very doubtful if the prayer would do any good, although he has offered to take it to Carlsruhe himself.

Now, in the first place a time of three months would be of no use to me, and in the second place I do not like to beg where I am quite positive, that I have a right to stay here as long as I please, although Mr. Smith does not see it, and dont seem to care much about it, as I had been at his office when I had the first direction that I was to go to the army or leave, and he then simply told me that he was sorry, but he could not do anything, and the best thing I could do, was to leave.

The treaty that was made with Baden in 1868, and of wich I sent a copy to the legation, was never recalled, and a treaty is a law, and if Baden dont keep their laws it is no one’s business; but if they don’t keep the treaty with the United States, and the United States do not care about it, I do not see why such treatys are made, nor do I see what is the advantage of becoming a citizen of the United States. This case should have been laid before the Baden and not the German Government, as it is a gross breach of the treaty of 1868 on the side of Baden. The coming here of Mr. Smith was quite useless as far as I am concerned; he had, as you thought the case of that Jew more important, done something for him, and he is the very one, that has made the decision of the Staats Ministerium so unfavorable for me, as his case was laid before that authority with mine, and he had been saucy and insolent to the authorities here, and was fined 20 marks for contempt of court, wich may have been reported to the ministry of state by sending the cases here for decision. Moreover it is just customary for the Jews around here to send their sons away to evade military duty, while I coud proof through the city council here, or any inhabitant, that I did not leave for that purpose.

However this may be, if a citizen of the United States, instead of being allowed to stay unmolested in any country, is being transported out of the country like a criminal kiked out like a dog, and the treaties with the United States sneered at, and the Americans are not able to interfere, I don’t wonder if people here have very queer notions about the ability of our statesmen.

I shall wait here two days yet, and if the time is run off and I cannot effect a prolongation myself, I suppose I have to clear out, as the time will be likely too short for you to do anything more.

Respectfully,