Mr. Coleman to Mr. Blaine.
Berlin, January 26, 1892.
Sir: I beg to respectfully submit herewith for the consideration of the Department the facts respecting an application for a passport made in person at this legation by Mr. Julius C. Eversmann.
The statements made by Mr. Eversmann are as follows: He was born at Hickman, Ky., as the son of a father of German origin who had emigrated from Mexico, in about the year 1839, to the United States, where he resided until 1846. In the course of this residence, extending over a period of some seven years, the father, as alleged, became an American citizen, although no time or place of naturalization can be given. In 1846, at the age of about 4 years, the applicant went to Germany, where he resided continuously for some eighteen years, for the purpose of acquiring an education. At the expiration of that period, in 1864, he went to Mexico, where he remained for fifteen years, residing near the frontier of the United States. In 1879 he returned from Mexico to Germany, where he has ever since resided—during a period of some thirteen years—and where he held the office of American vice-consul at Barmen from 1886 to 1889.
Mr. Eversmann has two sons, who were born in Mexico, residing with him in Germany. The elder son having almost reached the age when military service is required of German subjects, the father has made formal application, as yet unanswered, to the German Government for an expression of their views as to the nationality of this son. He does not, however, ask that his sons be included in the passport for which he has applied.
Mr. Eversmann claims to have been the holder of a passport issued by the Department, of which he does not remember the number or date, but which was, as alleged, transmitted to the Department by our consul at Diisseldorf with his dispatch No. 21, of May 17, 1886.
While willing to take the oath of allegiance, Mr. Eversmann frankly declares that he can not comply with the requirement that the applicant shall swear that he intends to return to the United States, as he has no purpose whatever of doing so.
In view of all the circumstances, and especially of the fact that no intention to return exists, I have felt constrained to decline to issue the passport, but, at his request, refer the case for the judgment of the Department.
I have, etc.,