New-York tribune., 1872-10-18
GERMAN EMTGRAr1oY TO AMERICA.

| measures TO prevent emigration. 1t was said
a circular had been issued, which, in threaten
ing terms, declared that emigrants would be
| treated as outlaws over whom special sur
veillance would be instituted. We were un-
willing to believe that orders of this descrip-
ton had been issued, applying indscriminately
to all emigTants, and we so expressed our
selves. But since the arrival of this telegram
We have received intelligence by mail which,
though it fails to confirm the statement OF
extreme penalties, leaves little room to doubt
that the German, or at least the Prusslan,
Government has adopted stringent measures
10 prevent emigration, and that these orders
tend to affect emigration to the United States
as well as other countries.
The request of a Prussian soldier to be dis
charged from active duty that he might be
permitted to emgrate, was refused, and the
Emperor took occasion to express the
opiniOn that it was not advisable for the au-
thorities to cOuntenance emigration In any
way. The Emperor added that, as far as pos
siIe. il was desirable to extend the obligation
to military duty to prevent emigration and
he wished all authorities to take the proper
measures to this end. This direction is now
the kingdom Under the pretext that certain
emgrant agents have abused the confidence
of the peasants, all agents are menaced with
prosecution. it Is further announced. on what
appears to be good authority, that a suryell-
lance over emigrants is to be established IN
all the ports.
The attitude which has thus been assumed
by the Prussian Government has every ap-
pearance Of unfriendliness toward the United
States. The cause which chiefly led to the
NEGOTIATIONS for a naturalization treaty be-
tween Prussia and the United States, was the
annoyance TO which Germans were subjected
who had emigrated and subsequently returned
to their native country, hoping that their alb
sence would secure them immunity from
various penalties to which they were liable
for the failure to perform military duty. In
some cases these Germans had become
naturalized citizens of the United States and
depended upon this act to eXtinguish their
original obligations; in others, through ignO-
rance of legal formalities, they imagined a
residence IN this country for several years to
be equivalent to naturalization. 1t was mani
festly the interest of the United States not
merely to afford complete protection to the
natumlized citizen, but to encourage Germans
10 emigrate to this country on trial. In the
treaty of 1868 the North German Government
made concessions which, we were assured,
eliectually secured the first of these purposes.
Although we have at present no intelligence
of a breach of the specific terms of the treaty,
it may not be long before the policy of the
Prussan Government may render 1t necessary
for us to request full observance of the
contract.
We were led to understand, however, at the
time of the signing of the naturalization treaty,
that the Government of North Germany had
agreed that emigration should be perfectly
free When the treaty was before the North
German Diet, this point, which had been left
in Obscurity, was especially discussed. Mr..
Bancroft, who signed the treaty on the part of
the United States, in dispatch published in
the diplomatic correspondence of 1861 makes
the following remarks in reference to this de-
bate:
DR. schleden OF the Committee OF the Diet reported
that inasmuch as the liability OF the naturazed citizen
on his return to his original country extended only 10
breaches OF law committed before emigration, it fol-
lowed that any breach OF the law which might be
ndtted by emigration itself was excluded from the
class OF punishable actions. This view confirmed
by Mr. K0nig who pointed out that, as the emigrant
remained liable only for acts committed before emgra-
oo, emigration ITSELF and the consequent withdrawal
from military duty, could not be included among such
act" +" Dr. Lowe questioned the Chancellor on this
point more. saying To my joy think may
understand the Chancellor to say that no prosecution
for unauthorized emigration take place II the
emisrant shall have ceased to be American citzeA.'
Count Bismarck replied: 1 herewith confirm the de
olardiOn which the gentleman DESIRES"
In this way ample assurance seems to have
been given by Mr.. K0nig, the Councillor of
the Foreign Office, who signed the treaty, and
by the Chancellor himself, that no steps would
be taken TO prevent emigration This impress
sion would seem to be strengthened by the
fact that, from that time, proceedings against
persons for unauthorized emigration ceased
entimy
The Prussan Government may interpose
the objection that the United States have no
right to interfere between that Government
and is own subjects, who never became citi-
zens of the United States. Although we might
be morally right in demanding the fulillment
of the spirit of the treaty, we would have
some difficulty in formulating claims that do
not come within its plain language. For the
present then we must be content with endeav
oring to ascertain the cause of the Ostentatious
change witch has been made in the attitude
of Government which has hitherto shown us
nothing but kindness.
We have little doubt that this can be
traced to the unfriendly attitude of Presi
dent Grant toward Germany in her late
war with France. 1t is very well known that
tho greatest friend of the United States in
Germany is Prince Bismarck. The Treaty of
1868 was only obtained through bis influence.
and tho greatest obstacles that were opposed |