No. 416.
Mr. Wallace to Mr. Frelinghuysen.
[Extract.]
Legation of
the United States,
Constantinople, January 26, 1884.
(Received February 20.)
No. 318.]
Sir: The legation has been in receipt of several
notes from his highness, the minister of foreign affairs, requesting to be
furnished with lists of citizens of the United States resident in
Constantinople and other parts of the Empire. Of these notes copies are
transmitted as incisures 1, 3, and 5, with translations numbered 2, 4, and
6. Understanding from other quarters that the movement for such lists will
be extended to the whole country, dependent in a measure upon the nature of
the replies received in response to these invitations, it occurred to me to
draw a paper which might be taken as of general application, and a copy of
it is accordingly forwarded for your information.
That the Sublime Porte has a design underlying the requests herewith
inclosed, there is little doubt. The measure started against the colony of
Jewish Americans in Palestine may be accepted as an indication [Page 540] of the nature of that design; and
as in that measure the Sublime Porte appears disposed to take jurisdiction
of questions concerning the validity of the naturalization of American
citizens of foreign birth resident in its jurisdiction, it has seemed to me
advisable to oppose such a claim in its inception.
Probably this is as good an opportunity as may present itself to remark upon
the opposition which would appear the general rule to measures proposed by
the Turks, not a few of which on their face, and, in fact, are reasonable
and proper enough.
In the first place, it is to be always remembered that while the Christian
powers have no hope of acquiring for their subjects in Turkey any new or
additional privilege—political, social, religious, or commercial—the serious
and persistent attempts to deprive those subjects of rights already conceded
have driven the powers unitedly into a policy of defense, and that, simply
speaking, is the meaning of these constant refusals of the overtures and
assertions which come to them from the Sublime Porte. Secondly, confining
observation to American interests exclusively, it will in most instances
prove the case that we must resist measures set on foot by the Sublime
Porte, not because the measures themselves are unjust, but because, if we
consent to them and the other powers protest, it will follow necessarily
that our people will be thrown into conditions of comparative
disadvantage.
* * * * * * *
very respectfully, &c.,
[Inclosure 1 in No.
318—Translation.]
Aarifi Pasha to Mr.
Wallace.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
Sublime Porte, July 26,
1883.
circular note verbale.
It appears from a communication received from the Department of the
Interior that foreigners living at Makrikeny refuse to allow themselves
to be inscribed on the census register until their consulates invite
them to submit themselves to the formality.
In bringing this fact before the legation of the United States of
America, the ministry of foreign affairs begs it to be good enough to
instruct whom it may concern so that the American citizens established
in the locality above mentioned may no longer object to the census.
[Inclosure 2 in No.
318.—Translation.]
Aarifi Pasha to Mr.
Heap.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
Sublime Porte, December 16,
1883.
circular.
Monsieur le Chargé
d’Affaires:
To be able to answer with greater facility questions addressed to it by
the different administrations concerning the nationality of foreign
subjects who, to carry on their business, are obliged to establish their
identity and their qualification, the bureau of nationality of my
department asks to be put in possession of a list of foreign subjects
living in Constantinople and the suburbs. I would therefore be much
obliged if you would kindly have a list made containing the names of
those under your jurisdiction and transmit it to the imperial
ministry.
Accept, &c.,
[Page 541]
[Inclosure 3 in No.
318.—Translation.]
Aarifi Pasha to Mr.
Wallace.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
Sublime Porte, December 19,
1883.
circular note verbale.
It appears from a recent report of the governor-general of Adrianople
that the American consul in that city refuses to assist the commission
charged with the inscription of foreign subjects residing in the
province, until he receives formal instructions from his superior
authorities to that end.
The formality in question being in the interest of foreigners, and as it
will facilitate the expedition of their affairs and put an end to
contestations of nationality, the ministry of foreign affairs thinks
necessary to refer to the former communications on this subject, and has
the honor again to beg the legation of the United States of America to
be good enough to have the necessary instructions transmitted to its
agent at Adrianople so that he may no longer object to the inscription
of American citizens by the above mentioned commission.
[Inclosure 4 in No. 318.]
Mr. Wallace to
Aarifi Pasha.
Legation of the United States,
Constantinople, January 25,
1884.
note verbale.
The legation of the United States of America has the honor to acknowledge
the receipt of circular notes verbales from his
highness the minister of foreign affairs relative to the inscription of
American citizens resident in the empire.
The legation of the United States observes that his highness the minister
of foreign affairs is pleased to remark that the inscriptions requested
are formalities of interest to foreigners themselves, being essential to
facilitate their business, and put an end to contests touching their
nationality. The wisdom of the purpose stated is admitted by the
legation of the United States, and to still further promote the very
laudable object, I will be very happy to comply with the desire of his
highness, the minister of foreign affairs, upon the conditions:
- (1)
- That the Sublime Porte will consent that the persons whose
names are inscribed in the lists as they may be returned to the
legation by the several consuls of the United States of America
for transmittal to his highness are in fact citizens of the
United States of America, and that there shall be no contest
about the citizenship of those inscribed on any of them by any
official or before any tribunal of the Imperial Government after
the lists are transmitted to his highness, the minister of
foreign affairs.
- (2)
- That a certificate of any consul or consular agent of the
United States of America resident in the Empire, duly attested
by his official seal, stating that the bearer of the certificate
is a citizen of the said United States, shall be definitive
proof of that fact and receivable as such for all intents and
purposes by all officials of the Imperial Government of Turkey
to whom they may at any time be presented.
The legation of the United States trusts that his highness the minister
of foreign affairs will accept the conditions stated as equitable and
just, inasmuch as they are designed the more certainly to promote the
interest of every person inscribed, by referring the question of
citizenship as a fact where it rightfully belongs—that is to the consuls
and consular agents of the Government of the United States.
Upon receiving the assent of his highness the minister of foreign affairs
to the conditions named, the legation of the United States will take
pleasure in directing full lists of the kind requested to be immediately
perfected, whereupon they will be at once transmitted to his highness,
the minister of foreign affairs.
