Sulzer to To all the governments of the monarchy. I send a copy to you, July 6, 1868

Circular of the 6th July, 1868.

In concluding the treaty of the 22d February of this year (Bulletin of Laws of the Confederation, p. 228), between the North German Confederation and the United States of America, it was the prevailing intention. That, in conformity to article 2 of this treaty, the punishable action, committed by the unauthorized emigration of a citizen of the confederation to the United States of America, should not be made the ground for a penal prosecution upon the return of such person to his former country after absence of not less than five years, and that the punishment for such action, even though already legally declared, should not be consummated if the person has acquired in America the right of citizenship in conformity to article 1 of said treaty.

The royal government is therefore instructed in the cases indicated to abstain from recommending trial and punishment, and in general from every kind of prosecution, whenever the person in question is able to produce the proof that he has become a naturalized citizen of the United States of America in conformity with the first clause of article 1.

The proper judicial authorities will be furnished by the minister of justice with an instruction in all cases where legal sentences of this kind, against the persons above described, exist, to report officially the remission by way of grace of the declared punishments and costs.