National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-02-09
PROTECTION ABROAD.
Diplomatic Correspondence Relating to Rein
hard Waguers Arrest in Russian Poland
Secretary Frelinghuysen Defining the
Rights OF American citizens.


of Reinhard Wagner, citizen of the United
States. The correspondence shows that on
Feb. o, 1883, the state department was noti-
fed through g. b. Mitchell, of New York, Of
the complaint made by Wagner that on 70.
turning from the United States to his native
country he had been arrested, his passports
seized, and that he was then under police sur
veillance, and that on Feb. 81 the secre tary
of state wrote Minister Hunt and directed
him to inquire into the merits of the case and
take such action as he should consider wise.
1t shows that Minister Hunt did mako in
uuiries, and that he was informed by the gov
ernor of Petrokow that Wagner and his
mother were permanent inhabitants of the
town of LODI; that Wagner was liable to mill
tary service. which had not been performed,
as he had evaded the conscription by leaving
tho country for the United States; that he was
at that time a Russian subject, although he
had returned to Russia with an American
passport, and that as such he would bo pun
ished for his disappearance in the time of
military conscription, and for his having re-
sided abroad without permission from the
Russian government.
In communicating this information 10 the
department Minister Hunt wrote that there
was difference between the statements Of
the governor and those made by Wagner, who
in his complaint had stated that he left Rus
sia before arriving at the military age, and
had.only returned to Russia to visit his home,
not to beLome "a anent resident, and that
he had written to Wagner asking him to ex-
plain, but had not then received a reply.
The next communication of the series is
signed by Acting Secretary of State Hunter,
and is an approval of the minister's action.
The next is telegram from the secretary of
state to Minister Hunt dated Dec 10, 1883,
informing him Of the report that Wagner had
been exiled to Siberia, and directing him to
al, t1a Nr,,N CAL e . tI,r
Immediately, and following this came tele-
grams between the department and Minister
Hunt covering the information obtained by
the latter with respect to Wagner, that he
WAS then reported to have left Russia for a
foreign country, and had not been oxiled.
Following the departments telegram ask
ing for information as to the truth of the
exile story is a long letter from the secretary
of state to Minister Hunt, dated Dec. 22, 1888,
in which he refers to previous correspondence
on the Wagner case, and states that the de-
partment was OF. the opinion, from his (tho
ministers) silence as to the case after the de-
partments letter of approval of his first steps
in the matter, that Wagner had been permitted
to quit Russian territory. Abiding then to
the newspaper story that Wagner had been
exiled, the secretary says this is a state
ment (which cannot but occasion to
this government the greatest concern"
He adds: Tho gravity of this intelligence
makes it inadvisable TO give you any positive
instructions upon it until the truth or incor-
rectncss of the statement can be ascertained
This government earnestly trusts that the
report will, on investigation, bo found base
less. 1t cannot believe tnat q government
which, like that of Russia, has lost no oppor-
tunity of cultivatng and extending the
friendliest OF relations, should have so far
disregarded the evidences of right to tho
protection of the government of the United
a. nj. .A.1.
his lawfully issued passport, and turned
deaf car to the courteous inter-
position made through you in his be-
half as to seize upon him and consign
him to exile in Siberia. No government
could be expected to look calmly on aud be-
hold the intliction upon one of its lawful citi-
zens of such punishment" Abiding so the
statement Of the governor of Petroukow that
Wagner could be punished for evading mill :
tary service, when he had left Russia before
arriving at military age, the secretary in this
letter says: "No nation should assert an ab-
Lutte claim over one of its subjects under cir
cumstances like these. u 10 is tanta-
mount to asserting right to punish any male
Russian who, having quit Russian territory
and become citizen of any state, may after.
ward return to Russia"
| He adds: "My purpose in presenting these
views, thus and now, is as promising formal
proposition to the government of his impe-
rial majesty to conclude q naturaliza-
tion convention between tho United
States and Russia, which shall
distinctly enunciate and Mt the same
time limit tho claims of that government
over those of original Russians allegiance
naturalized here, who may return within
Russian jurisdiction, and who upon their
departure left unfulhlled military obliga-
tion to that government You
will bear in mind that tho two points
to be gained, if possible are: First
permission for Mr.. Wagner to quit Russia
and secondly, better understanding be
tween the two countries as to their reciprocal
claims and obligations as regards naturalizel
citizens"
On Jan. IL, 1894, Minister Hunt informs tn
department that Wagner has returned volun
tarily to America, and on Jan. II the secre
tary Of state encloses in a communication +
Minister Hunt the report published in Til
NATIONAL REPUBLICAN of Wagner's pres
ence in the United States.
The last letter of the correspondence i
from Secretary Frelinghuysen to Ministe
Hunt, in which tho secretary informs tn
latter that it appears that Wagner, by bribin
the Russian police, has made his escape, an
in which he says: "In this latter proceedin
of Wagner it is not easy to find good groun
for diplomatic reclamation. - Thi
government could not make such clandestin
proceedings OH the part of one of its citizen
the foundation of a COMPLAINT to that of Rus
sia, and thereby appear to uph old and approx
them"
The secretary in this letter calls attention
to statement made by the governor of Pc
trowkyo i'll his communication to Ministe
Hunt about Wagner, in which he says: 9Th
American passport with which he was pre-
vided was taken from him, as in his qualit
! of Russian subject, he had not the right
have it." To this the secretary objects an
! says: This government will never admit th
claim of the local or general officers of fo
egn government to decide that the bona I'D
. holder of an American passport has no rigf
thereto. Such paper is the highest evidenC
that the person to whom IL WI
granted is q citizen Of the Unite
States, entitled by our own law
and by the generally accepted law
, nations, TO the protection due ut home an
abroad TO all citizens, whether native {
naturali2ed, unless it can be shown that
: their own acts they have voluntarily cease
I to enjoy their right to such protection. Thi
Is question to be decided between the tw
governments, and TO claim that the subord
: mates Of one of them have the right to dete
I mine ii would show disrespect toward
foreign state, which it would combat"
The secretary also directs the presentatiC
2 by Minister Hunt to the Russian governmel
: OF the proposition in the letter Of Dec. 22 T
a naturalization convention.
! Liabilities 20 National Banking Assooiu
tions.
!, The bill introduced in the senate yesterd