No. 308.
Mr. Wallace to Mr. Frelinghuysen
.
Legation of
the United States,
Constantinople
,
March 13, 1882.
(Received April 3.)
No. 71.]
Sir: I have the honor to inclose a communication
received from the Porte yesterday, from which it will appear that the
Ottoman authorities are disposed to insist upon a revision of the tariff
provisions of the treaty of 1862. The reference to the denouncement of the
treaty itself is in terms somewhat vague, but may be understood, I think, as
meaning that it is their desire that the revision of the present tariff
shall be effected with a view to a correspondence between its terms and
those of the treaty in prospect.
I will be happy to have your instructions touching the matter. Until they are
received, I shall do no more than acknowledge receipt of the note
inclosed.
Very respectfully, &c.,
[Page 503]
[Inclosure in No.
71.—Translation.]
Assim Pasha to Mr.
Wallace
.
Sublime
Porte
,
March 11,
1882.
According to the language of the treaty of commerce concluded between
Turkey and the United States of America on the 25th of February, 1862,
each of the contracting parties has the right to demand the revision of
the tariff one year before the expiration of each period of seven
years.
This term, as respects the present period, expires on the 1–13 of this
month. The undersigned, minister of foreign affairs of His Imperial
Majesty the Sultan, has the honor to apprise the minister resident of
the United States of America that the Sublime Porte demands the revision
of the tariff at present in force.
As, however, the Sublime Porte has decided to denounce the treaty itself
at the expiration of the twenty-first year, it is understood that the
revision of the present tariff, which is an integral part of the treaty,
shall be made on the basis to be fixed hereafter.
The undersigned begs the minister resident of the United States to be
pleased to take notice of the preceding declaration, and takes this
opportunity to renew, &c.,