[Inclosure.]
Ferdinand Herman Grenzer was born at St. Louis, Mo., in 1880, his
father having emigrated from Germany and having become naturalized
as an American citizen in 1876. In 1882 the father returned to
Germany, where he has since continued to reside. Grenzer was brought
to Germany by his father, as an infant, but he went back to the
United States in 1894 and remained there until August, 1901, since
which time he has been studying in Germany. Last spring he was asked
by the local authorities in Prussia if he were willing to perform
military service, and upon his saying that he was not, as he was an
American citizen merely sojourning in Germany for his education, he
was told that he must leave the country by the 1st of July.
Grenzer’s case was brought to the attention of the embassy by the
consul at Breslau, and intervention was made in his behalf (F. O.,
No. 1138) on April 2, 1902, to the end that he might be allowed to
finish his studies. He declared that it was his intention to return
to the United States to reside within two years.
No answer having been received in the meantime, intervention was
renewed (F. O., No. 1198) on June 30. Under date of July 12 the
foreign office informed the embassy that Grenzer would be permitted
to remain for two years longer in order to finish his studies at
Mittweida, Saxony.
Henry Honebein was born in Germany, and emigrated when about 24 years
old, after having performed military service, but with permission to
be absent from the country for only two years. This leave he had
prolonged twice, but he neglected doing so a third time, as he had
in the meantime, in 1898, become naturalized as an American citizen.
Last winter he returned on a visit to his former home in Prussia,
and soon after his arrival he was called upon and eventually he was
compelled to pay a fine for the technical offense of “emigration
without permission.”
The case was brought to the embassy’s attention by the consul at
Bremen, and intervention (F. O., No. 1102) was made in Honebein’s
behalf on February 5, 1902. No answer being received (Honebein,
however, having returned to the United States and not being
subjected to any inconvenience), intervention was renewed on June
30. On August 20 the embassy was informed by the foreign office that
the money which Honebein had been compelled to pay had been refunded
to him through the consul at Bremen.
George Soehlke emigrated to the United States when about 14 years
old, and became naturalized, after a residence of about six years,
in 1898. In June, 1902, he returned to Germany on a visit, and not
long after his arrival at his former home in Prussia, he was told by
the authorities that he must leave the country. He had already a
ticket for the steamer sailing on August 23 in his possession, but
the authorities said that he must leave before that date. At the
steamship office, however, he was not able to exchange his ticket.
Upon his case being brought to the embassy’s attention by the consul
at Bremen, intervention was made in his behalf (F. O., No. 1211), on
July 20, and almost immediately thereafter the desired permission
for Soehlke to continue his sojourn in Prussia was given.
Gustav Meincke emigrated to the United States after having obtained
his release from Prussian allegiance, and became naturalized as an
American citizen in New York, in 1892. He came back to Germany last
summer for the purpose of undergoing a surgical operation. In August
Meincke’s wife informed the embassy that the Prussian authorities
had ordered him to leave the country by the 15th of that month.
Intervention was at once made (F. O., No. 1232), on the 9th, and
under date of September 10, Meincke not having been molested in the
meantime, the foreign office informed the embassy that he would be
permitted to remain in Prussia until October 1, as desired.
George Dickmann (Dieckmann) was born in Germany and emigrated to the
United States after having obtained his release from Prussian
allegiance in 1886, duly becoming naturalized as an American citizen
in 1894. In the summer of the current year he returned to Germany on
a visit, and soon after arriving at his former home he was informed
that he would not be allowed to remain longer than August 10. He
then applied for permission to remain until September 20, as he had
a steamer ticket for himself and his family good for that date,
which he found he was unable to exchange. On being told that he must
leave as ordered, he appealed to the consul at Bremen, who informed
the embassy of the facts in the case. Intervention was made (F. O.,
No. 1229) in Dickmann’s behalf on August 8, and renewed (F. O., No.
1261) on September 15. Under date of September 15, in a note which
was received on the following day, the foreign office notified the
embassy that permission had been granted Dickman to remain in
Prussia till September 20, as requested.
