[Extract.]
Mr. Morris to Mr.
Seward
No. 206.]
Legation of the United States of
America,
Constantinople
May 8, 1867.
Sir: Enclosed I transmit a translation of a
note from the minister of foreign affairs relative to the prohibition of
the importation of revolvers.
[Page 2]
I am pleased to see that the Senate by a nearly unanimous vote has
confirmed the treaty by which Russia cedes all her possessions in North
America to the United States. The enterprise and capital of our
countrymen will develop the resources of this comparatively inhospitable
region of country, and will render it available to its utmost capacity
for the agriculturist, the miner, and the fisherman along its coasts.
Whatever of the productive wealth it may contain will now be brought to
light.
* * * * * * *
The skill and secrecy with which the present cession has been negotiated
has excited the admiration and surprise of Europe; and the confirmative
action of the Senate shows that upon all questions nearly concerning the
national dignity and welfare there is but little divergence of opinion
among the co-ordinate branches of the government.
I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward
Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.
[Translation.]
Fuad Pacha to Mr. Morris
Department of Foreign Affairs of the
Sublime Porte,
March 30, 1867.
Sir: You are not ignorant of the fact that
the Sublime Porte, by a decision dated the 29th of Rijeb, 1279,
(January 7, 1863,) prohibited the introduction into the Ottoman
empire of all kinds of arms and ammunition of war, with the
reservation only of arms for sporting purposes and of luxury.
The administration of the customs up to the present time having
considered revolvers as coming under the head of arms of luxury,
excepted them from the general measure of prohibition
aforementioned, and therefore permitted their admission without
difficulty. But as for some time past the number of revolvers
introduced into the empire as a matter of luxury evidently surpasses
the demands of commerce, and the calibre of these peculiar arms more
and more increasing, and also the use which is made of them in the
armies of various countries having awakened the attention of the
imperial government, it has come to the resolution, based upon a
conformity of opinion on the part of the Grand Council of Justice,
to suppress their importation. This decision is all the more
justified by the circumstance that these kinds of arms are
essentially suitable for the arming of evil designing men, who may
readily conceal the possession of them, and so escape the vigilance
of the police.
In bringing this decision, the necessity and urgency of which are
sufficiently shown, to your knowledge, I beg
you, sir, to be so good as to give notice to American merchants that
the general direction of the customs of the empire will no longer
allow the importation of revolvers, hereafter classed among arms of
war, and coming under this title in the act of pro-ascription
contained in the ordinance of the 7th of July, 1863.
Accept, sir, assurances of my perfect consideration.
Hon. E. J. Morris, Minister Resident, United States of America.
