Julius White to Von Philipsborn, October 13, 1879

Mr. White to Mr. von Philipsborn.

The undersigned, envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary of the United States of America, has the honor to call the attention of his excellency Mr. von Philipsborn, in charge of the foreign office, to the case of John Schehr, a native of Alsace and a naturalized citizen of the United States.

From Mr. Schehr’s statement, it appears that he was born at Mothern, January 31, 1855; that he emigrated to the United States October 28, 1873; that he was naturalized September 3, 1879, and returned to Germany on a visit in the same month. It further appears that the kreisdirector of Wessemburg has summoned Mr. Schehr to pay a fine of 600 marks for non-performance of military duty, and when shown the ministerial decrees of 1863, addressed to officials of the empire, and requiring them to report the case to the minister of justice before action, is understood to have replied that these decrees did not apply to Alsace, and that Mr. Schehr did wrong to address the American legation instead of petitioning His Majesty the Emperor.

The undersigned, in view of the fact that a space of only ten days has been allowed to Mr. Schehr to obtain a remission of his fine, would respectfully request his excellency Mr. von Philipsborn to cause this case to be promptly investigated, and that if the facts prove to be as stated, this fine may be remitted.

The undersigned would also be glad to be informed if it is a fact that the ministerial decrees, which form an integral part of the treaty of 1868, have not been extended to Alsace-Lorraine, or have been superseded by others, as the local authorities in that district appear invariably to disregard them, and needlessly among naturalized American citizens returning to visit their families.

The undersigned incloses the citizen paper of Mr. Schehr with the respectful request for its ultimate return, and avails himself, &c.