Mr. White to Mr.
Bayard.
Legation of
the United States,
London, February 20, 1889.
(Received March 2.)
No. 926.]Sir: I have the honor to acquaint you that Mr.
Herman Keller has applied for a passport, and that I have felt it my duty to
refuse to issue the same to him without previously referring his application
to the Department of State, as the circumstances are somewhat unusual.
I inclose herewith the sworn statement on which Mr. Keller bases his
application for a passport, from which you will see that he was born in
1855, in the city of Mexico, where his father, whose naturalization papers
as a United States citizen, dated April, 1847, I also inclose, was then
residing.
His permanent residence is now in London, and not only is he uncertain how long he resided in the United States, but he is
unable to tell me whether he has ever been there in
his life, even as a young child. He certainly has no intention at present or
in the immediate future of going to America, where I understand that he has
neither interests nor business connections.
I inclose passports issued by the State Department to Mr. Keller’s father,
Edgar Keller, now deceased, in 1866 and in 1870; also a document issued in
February 17, 1857, by our consulate at Mexico, to Mr. Edgar Keller, setting
forth the dates on which his children were born.
[Page 445]
I ought to add that, on the strength of the aforesaid documents, passports
have been issued by this legation to Mr. Herman Keller in July 15, 1881, and
to his wife in May 2, 1884.
I have the honor to inquire whether I shall comply with his request and again
issue a passport to him.
Mr. Keller particularly asked that the inclosed documents might be returned
to him. I told him that I should transmit the request, but made no promise
in the matter.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure 1 in No. 926.]
Application of Hermann Keller for a
passport.
No.—, Issued February 12,
1889.
I, Hermann Keller, a native and loyal citizen of the United States, do
hereby apply to the legation of the United States at London for a
passport for myself.
In support of the above application I do solemnly swear that I was born
at the City of Mexico, in the Republic of Mexico, on or about the 22d
day of March, 1855; that my father was a naturalized citizen of the
United States (I produce my father’s naturalization papers); that I am
domiciled in England, my permanent residence being at 102 Fenchurch
street, in the city of London, where I follow the occupation of a
merchant; I am unable to say whether or how long I resided in the United
States, as I came to Europe when I was very young; that I am the bearer
of passport No. 330, issued by this legation on the 15th day of July,
1881; that I at present have no intention of returning to the United
States with the purpose of residing and performing the duties of
citizenship therein; and that I desire the passport for the purpose of
traveling on the continent.
Further, I do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the
Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and
domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and
that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or
purpose of evasion; so help me God.
Legation of the United
States
at London.
Sworn to before me this 12th day of February, 1889.
description of applicant,
Age, thirty-three years; mouth, moustache; stature, 6 feet-inches,
English; chin bearded; forehead high; hair brown; eyes gray;
complexion fair; nose straight; face, oval.
[Inclosure 2 in No. 926.]
Birth certificate of Herman Keller.
Consulate of the United States of America,
Mexico, February 27, 1857.
No. 72.]This day in this consulate personally appeared Edward Keller, a citizen
of the United States of America residing in this city, and declared that
by his lawful wife, Harriet Magdalen Charlton Keller, on the 22d of
March, A. D. 1855, in this City of Mexico, he had born to him a son, to
whom he has given the name of Silvester Paul Herman Edward Keller.
And at the same time said Edward Keller declared that on the 9th of
January of the present year, by his aforesaid wife, he had born to him a
son, to whom he has given the name of John Gustavo Adolphus Ricard
Keller, and that he does hereby place his before-named children under
the protection of the American flag in order that they may severally
enjoy all the rights, privileges, and protection to which they are
entitled by the existing laws of the said United States.
E.
Keller.
Attest;
John Black,
Consul.
Consulate of the United States of America.
Mexico, February 28, 1857.
No. 83.]I, the undersigned and consul of the United States of America for the
City of Mexico, hereby certify that I have this day carefully examined
and compared the foregoing document with the original record in this
consulate No. 72, Register 1, folio 10, and that it is a true and
faithful copy of said original record register 1, folio 12.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the consular
seal the day and year first above written.
