[Extract.]
Mr. Morris to Mr.
Seward.
No. 17.]
Legation of the United States,
Constantinople,
May 6,1862.
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the
receipt of your despatch (No. 20) bearing date April 1, 1862, and to
transmit to the department a copy of the vizerial of the Sublime Porte
interdicting the entrance into its ports and waters of privateers or
other vessels acting against the shipping of the United States of
America.
This order is even more stringent than stated by me in a previous
despatch. It is, in fact, an absolute and unconditional prohibition of
the entrance of privateers or any class of vessels into the ports and
waters of the Ottoman dominions fitted out for the purpose of preying on
the commerce of the United States of America. The naval vessels of the
United States are not subjected to any restrictions whatsoever. This
proceeding is confirmatory of the liberal and friendly spirit to which I
have heretofore had occasion to refer as characterizing the relations of
the Ottoman government with the United States of America.
I have the honor to enclose the decree touching the prohibition of the
importation of gunpowder, &c. * * * * *
With great respect, your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward,
Secretary of State.
[Page 789]
Official copy of a vizerial order addressed to all
the public functionaries of the Sublime Porte on the sea-coast
of the Ottoman empire, dated the 24th Cheval, 1278, (April 23, 1862.)
Excellency: According to the principles of
international rights established in the late treaty made at the
conference held in Paris, the use of ships-of-war and other vessels
as privateers (korsan) was entirely abolished by all the great
powers therein represented.
The legation of the United States of America has now requested that,
conformably with the preceding, instructions be given by the Sublime
Porte to its functionaries on the sea-coast of the empire for the
purpose of maintaining the principle adopted as aforestated.
As it has, therefore, been here deemed necessary, in view of said
principle, that effective measures should be taken to prevent
vessels of the United States of America from being exposed to injury
in any of the ports and waters of the Ottoman dominions by
privateers such as those alluded to, your excellency will, in case
any privateers or armed vessels preying on the commerce of the
United States attempt to enter them, with or without prizes, adopt
such means as will prevent them from carrying the design into
execution.
[Translation.]
His Highness Aali Pacha to
Mr. Morris.
No. 5624.]
Sublime Porte, Department of
Foreign Affairs,
February 28, 1862.
Sir: I have the honor to notify you that,
by a decree of his Imperial Majesty the Sultan, the importation of
powder, cannon, all kinds of military arms, and munitions of war,
have just received a general prohibition in all parts of the Ottoman
empire, conformably with the stipulations of the treaty of commerce
concluded the 25th of February between the Sublime Porte and the
government of the United States of America.
This prohibition will be put in force from the 1/13 of March of the
present year. Special regulations will soon be published on this
subject, detailing the articles which the Sublime Porte may allow,
as an exception, or provisionally, to be imported, as, also, the
obligations to which they will be subjected on their disembarkation
in a port of the empire, according to the terms of the treaty. I
therefore beg you, sir, to be so good as to give such orders as may
be deemed necessary to those who should be acquainted with this
measure, so that masters of vessels, merchants, coasters, and
others, citizens of your government, may be informed of the
preceding, and called upon to submit to the measures adopted on this
point.
Be pleased, sir, to accept assurances of my perfect
consideration.
Hon. E. Joy Morris,
Minister Resident from the United States of
America.