Wolfarth to The Envoy Extraordinary and, January 8, 1881

Baron Haymerle to Mr. Kasson.

In response to the esteemed note of the 31st December last, (F. O. 68,) the imperial and royal ministry for foreign affairs has the honor respectfully to transmit to Mr. J. A. Kasson, envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary of the United States of America, the inclosed protocol, taken with Marcus Cobn by the district captaincy in Bischof-Teinitz, on the 16th of July, 1880, whereby the said Cohn expressly renounced the citizenship of the United States of America, acquired through naturalization.

With regard to the information desired by the envoy at the close of his note, the imperial and royal ministry for foreign affairs, has the honor to remark that in respect to the renunciation provided in article IV of the convention of 20th September, 1870, by a citizen of the United States of America of his allegiance, no special legal enactments exist in this empire.

With regard to the renunciation of Austrian citizenship, the same is, article 4 of the Austrian state fundamental law of December 20, 1867 (A. G. L., No. 142), “On the part of the state, only limited by duty of military service,” and accordingly, males no longer liable to such service and females do not require a formal document of discharge in order to be released from their allegiance. The delivery of a declaration to this effect before the competent political authority at first resort is sufficient, which authority, upon application, issues a certificate to that effect.

The undersigned, avails himself, &c.

For the ministry for foreign affairs.