No. 423.
Mr. Wallace to Mr. Frelinghuysen.
Legation of
the United States,
Constantinople, March 12, 1884.
(Received March 31.)
No. 350.]
Sir: I have the honor to forward for your
information a copy and translation of a communication received yesterday
from the Sublime Porte relative to certain persons in Jerusalem claiming to
be naturalized citizens of the United States, but whose claims the Sublime
Porte could not recognize.
The subject is fully disclosed in my dispatch to the Department, No. 315,
dated January 24, 1884.
The explanation given by the minister of foreign affairs in the present paper
will doubtless be satisfactory, and serve to remove the idea that the
Sublime Porte was contemplating assumption of a right to decide upon
questions of Amercan naturalization.
To prevent possible complications between the imperial authorities of
Jerusalem and Mr. Merrill, our consul there, and especially to reserve to
the latter the decision of claims of right to his protection, I have thought
it best to send him the additional instruction referred to in my reply to
the minister of foreign affairs, a copy of which is also herewith
inclosed.
Very respectfully, &c.,
[Inclosure 1 in No.
350.—Translation.]
Aarifi Pasha to Mr.
Wallace.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
Sublime Porte, March 11,
1884.
Monsieur l’Envoyé: I received the note your
excellency did me the honor to address me on the 24th of January last,
No. 196, in answer to the note verbale of my
department, dated January 22, No. 73375, 1, relative to some
individuals, formerly Russian subjects, who would seem to be trying to
place themselves under the protection of the United States consulate at
Jerusalem.
The observations your excellency makes in connection with this question
renders it my duty to return to the import and the real meaning of my
communication.
The imperial ministry had no intention of generally discussing the
question of naturalization or foreign nationality. Its intention was
neither to contest the validity of the naturalization obtained in the
United States by persons who are not of Turkish origin nor to establish
a control on the change of nationality effected in this way by them.
Still less had it the idea of questioning the status of real American
citizens residing in the territory of the Ottoman Empire.
[Page 550]
The object of the above-mentioned note was simply to call the attention
of the United States legation to the particular and altogether irregular
case of some persons, formerly Russian subjects, who left their country
to come and establish themselves at Jerusalem, and who, without ever
having been in America, claim the privileges of American citizens. In
disputing the right, these individuals have conferred upon themselves,
the Sublime Porte rests on the incontestable principle everywhere
recognized in matters concerning change of nationality.
Any individual who desires to renounce his original nationality and
become the subject or citizen of another state, must have emigrated from
his native country and have established himself in the country which in
future is to become his adopted country.
This has not been the case with the former Russian subjects mentioned in
the note of my department.
They have at no time made a sojourn in the United States, and the
naturalization they claim to have obtained being but fictitious and delusive the Sublime
Porte cannot recognize them. The Imperial Government considers any
inhabitant of the Empire who does not belong to another country, or has
ceased to have another nationality, as a Turkish subject, and must
regard any foreign naturalization of such individuals, when obtained
during their residence in the Ottoman Empire, as irregular and
fictitious.
I am pleased to hope, Monsieur l’Envoyé, that the above explanations will
suffice to clear away any misunderstanding which may have arisen from my
preceding communication, and will give your excellency to understand the
motives for which the Imperial Government must continue to consider as
Turkish subjects the former Russian subjects mentioned in the preceding
note verbale from my department.
Accept, &c.,
[Inclosure 2 in No. 350.]
Mr. Wallace to
Aarifi Pasha.
Legation of the United States,
Constantinople, March 12,
1884.
Highness: I have the honor to acknowledge
receipt of the note No. 73820, 10, and dated March 11 instant, which you
kindly addressed to me relative to certain persons, formerly Russian
subjects, and at present in Jerusalem, claiming to be United States
citizens, but whose naturalization you impeach on the ground that they
have never been in the United States.
I hasten to thank your highness for the very clear explanation given in
the present note, and to say that I will take pleasure in immediately
forwarding it to the authorities of my Government.
I will also cause it to be communicated to the American consul at
Jerusalem.
By reference to my note No. 196, January 24 last, your highness will
observe the classification there given of persons who might be at
present in Jerusalem claiming to be naturalized citizens of the United
States of America.
The first class is of those who have no ground for such claim, not having
taken out the first paper required of them by the law.
These the consul is instructed to inform that they have no right to
protection by my Government; and following the present note of your
highness it will be my duty to further instruct the American consul at
Jerusalem to furnish his excellency the governor of Jerusalem with a
copy of the list of persons whom, upon investigation, he discovers to be
fairly within the definition of the said first class.
I avail, &c.,
