Office of the Historian

Mr. Hay to Mr. Harris.

Department of State,
Washington, November 9, 1899.
No. 53.]

Sir: Referring to the Department’s instruction No. 40, of September 11 last, relative to certain dispatches from the United States consul at Prague in regard to the cases of several naturalized American citizens who were arrested by the Austrian authorities for the nonperformance of military service, I have to acknowledge the receipt of your dispatch No. 46 of September 30 last, with special reference to the cases of Josef Schmid and Frank Blaha.

In reply I have to inform you that your action in regard to the cases in question is fully approved by the Department.

You are requested to watch such matters carefully and to act energetically with regard to them, claiming all rights under the treaty with the promptness contemplated by the Tripp-Goluchowski understanding of 1895–96.

I am, etc.,

John Hay.