Sidney Everett to Mr. von Bülow, April 23, 1879

Mr. Everett to Mr. von Bülow.

The undersigned, charge d’affaires of the United States of America, has the honor to express his regret to his excellency Mr. von Bülow, imperial minister for foreign affairs, that the request of this legation on the 21st instant for the release of its servant, Wilhelm Knoth, from military service could not be complied with, and the undersigned would respectfully request to be furnished with an official statement of the fact, heretofore unknown to the legation, that the servants of the legation are not exempt from military service.

The undersigned, in view of the great inconvenience suffered by the legation from being now without a messenger would be glad if his excellency would obtain a diminution of the time of Wilhelm Knoth’s service, without, however, intending thereby to concede the right of the military authorities to deprive the legation, even for a short time, of its messenger.

The undersigned, subject to the superior instruction of his government, to which he has reported this occurrence, cannot but regard this action of the military authorities as a compulsory demand on the legation for one of its servants, and therefore as inconsistent with the principles of international law as expounded by German as well as English and American jurists.

The undersigned would call the attention of his excellency to the fact that the servants of the legation, and of the families of both ministers and secretaries, have heretofore been exempted from taxation on the production of official proof of their service, and the undersigned fails to perceive why a distinction should be made as regards military obligations.

His excellency must be fully aware of the very liberal privileges accorded by American statute law as to the servants of foreign missions, and the mere fact that obligatory military service is not a part of the American Constitution would hardly seem to be a reason for a want of reciprocal international concessions on the part of the German Government.

The undersigned, while awaiting further instructions from his government in regard to this matter, gladly avails himself of this occasion to renew to his excellency, Mr. von Bülow, the assurance of his distinguished consideration.