Mr. Bayard to Mr. Cox.
Washington, October 15, 1885.
Sir: Your No. 22 of the 24th instant has been received, and the action of Mr. Heap, therein reported, in opposing the order of the Turkish authorities for the expulsion of the brothers Lubrowsky, American citizens, from Safed, in Palestine, solely because of their Semitic faith, meets with the approval of the Department as anticipating the instructions sent to you on the 29th of August last.
This Government cannot assent to any religious test being applied to citizens of the United States by any power whatever. No officer of the United States is constitutionally competent to admit the validity of such a test. Hence, Mr. Heap’s telegraphic instructions to Mr. Robeson that the Lubrowsky brothers should not yield to the order of expulsion, unless force were employed, is approved as discreet and proper. It is hoped that your anticipations may be realized, and that, in view of the attitude taken by the legation, the matter may rest without further proceedings against the parties.
I am, &c.,