Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-04-14
A CONSUL INDIGNANT
REFERS TO AMERICANS WHO
LIVE OUT OF THEIR COUNTRY.
Secretary Hay Announces This Govern
ment's Position-An Incident
at hamburg.

| In the Ecuadorean series Of diplomatic
exchanges appearing in the volume of for
eign relations soon to be issued by the
+! State Department is a communication
| which was addressed by Consul A. ]. Samp-
| son at Quito, Ecuador, to Secretary Hay,
| relative to claims on American citizenship.
| The consul said:
| Zone of the most difficult experiences OF
| a representative of the United States Is to
| determine what are the rights OF certain
| claimants to American citizenship. 1t Is
| well-known fact that there are many in
| stances Of persons claiming citizenship OF
| the United States, both native and nat
| uralized, who have been living abroad for
| many years, all the time claiming the pro-
lection Of the United States, but discharg-
| Ing none of the duties OF citizenship, ana
in many instances of no honor to the ma
ton, while all their scheming Is to avoid
all obligations to and to claim all exemp-
lions possible from duties to the country In
| which residing. 1 know one case in which
a naturalized subject has resided for over
forty years in the land of his nativity,
| without even visiting the United States,
and cannot now speak one word of En-
glish Such persons make it religious
duty to sign the register of American cit
liens in the United States legation or con-
sulate each succeeding two years and pro-
stripes and sigh for the day to speedily
come when they can once more be at home
in the best country in the world always
saying. hope in two or three years
moreD.
Some such persons are engaged in mer-
chandising. You may enter and inspect
their stock and not find dollars worth
that has been purchased in the United
States In many instances they have
amassed fortunes, but not one dollar of it
increased the wealth of the United States,
and yet it seeks the protection of the same.
In prominent letters seen over the front of
the door are the words. American Prop
erty.' Thus in every possible way and by
repeated assertions they claim American
citizenship, and If an official representative
of the United States dare question it the
over Jealous citizen becomes indignant and
informs the said official that gov
eminent would not hesitate to protect her
citizens when abroad True, there are
those who reside abroad for many years
who are engaged in some business or enter
prise that will advance the interests Of
American commerce or manufactures. and
who fully intend to return to the United
States to resume the duties of citizenship
as soon as certain results have been accom-
plished.
Such persons are entitled to proper rec
ignition One not on the ground may be
ready to say that it is an easy matter to
determine between the two classes. But
after an experience he will be ready to ac-
knowledge that it is impossible to deter
one who is a citizen solely for what is in it,
The Governments Attitude.
The attitude of the government toward the
claims to protection on the ground of citi-
zenship is shown in communication ad-
dressed by Secretary Hay to Ambassador
Porter at Paris in consequence of the re-
ceipt of a communication from the Ameri-
can chamber of commerce of Paris. Secre-
tary Hay said:
1.-The government holds that every citizen
sojourning or travelling abroad in pursuit of
his lawful affairs is entitled to a passport,
and the duration of such sojourn the de-
partment does not arrogate to itself the
right to limit prescribe"
In the French series is contained the cor
respondence incident to the unwilling of
the Rochambeau monument in Washington,
also the complaints of alleged violations at
Pacific coast points of the Franco-American
consular convention of 1853 and the ex-
changes relative to the assistance rendered
the Martinique sufferers by this govern
ment.
Prominent in the German series are the
diplomatic exchanges pertaining to the
visit of Prince Henry to the United States
Indignity to Consulate.
In that series is also contained the cor
respondence resulting from an incident oc-
curing at the United States consulate at
Bamberg, Bavaria. The reports of CONNER
cial Agent Bardell, stationed at that post
show that some time last June an insult
was offered the shield hanging over the en-
trance to the consulate and a rock was
thrown through the window. The deed was
committed at night Mr.. Bardells reports
state that he at once notified the first
mayor, who expressed deep regret and took
steps looking to the apprehension Of the
culprit. On the following day the second
mayor called in state carriage and in full
dress and personally expressed deep regret
at the occurrence SuhSanuauf1v ba
nicipal authorities offered a reward for the
perpetrators with view to fastening their
arrest. Expressions of regret also came
from the German foreign office. The incl
dent although the subject of considerable
correspondence, was happily closed A new
shield was admitted duty free, and when #
was placed over the consulate at Ramhars
the authorities turned out in honor of the
event.
The Shield Saluted.
MIR. Bardell In reporting the closing of the
incident to the State Department said the
mayor and his assistant, five members of
the magistrate, the secretary Of the mae,s-
trate and the secretary Of the board of
trade, all In full dress, walked In SOL
emn procession from the rathaus to the
United States commercial agency" and
added: when the procession reached a
point within about fifty feet of the house
a police officer in gala uniform carried
the new coat OF arms up a ladder to its
new resting place. and. everything having
been properly prepared beforehand, had
the shield in position so 1t could be and
was saluted by every gentleman in the
cortege lifting his hat" Mr. Bardell saws
he then received the officials in the con-
sular rooms, when the mayor again ex
pressed profound regret and promised that
nothing would be left undone to bring to
justice the miscreants.
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