No. 671.
Mr. Cox to Mr.
Bayard.
Legation of
the United States,
Constantinople, October 17, 1885.
(Received November 2.)
No. 31.]
Sir: I have the honor to inclose herewith a copy of
the dispatch, with its accompanying papers, which I have sent to the Porte,
in protest of certain school taxes levied on the island of Mytilene.
I hope it may meet with your concurrence.
I have, &c.,
[Inclosure 1 in No. 31.]
Mr. Cox to
Said Pasha.
Legation of the United States,
Constantinople, October 17,
1885.
Excellency: I inclose for your observation a
copy of a letter from the United States consul-general here, Mr. G. H.
Heap; and also a copy of another letter to Mr. Heap from the United
States consul at Smyrna.
These inclosures show a grave apprehension on the part of the consular
agent of the United States at Mytilene, because of a peculiar circular
of the governor of that island. That circular refers to the levying of a
school tax upon the property of foreigners.
No one, whether foreigner or otherwise, whatever may be his abstract
right in the premises as to taxation, objects to proper and legal
provision for educational objects. Nor does it appear that the foreign
residents of Mytilene have waived their right to object on principle to
the payment of any school tax, but they do object, and I respectfully
desire now, on behalf of Americans resident in Mytilene or elsewhere in
Turkey, to protest against the levy of two separate and distinct school
taxes, one by the central and the other by the communal or municipal
government.
If it be said that the tax complained of has not yet been consummated by
either the formal levy or its collection and payment, I respectfully
answer that it is against the right to levy this double tax that we
protest; for if it can be done in this form in one island it can be done
anywhere in the Ottoman Empire, and if done by the municipal and central
governments it can be done by other Turkish authorities, until the tax
may be not only doubled but tripled or quadrupled.
I trust, excellency, that this protest will call attention to that which
may grow into a precedent and thus produce added trouble in the
future.
I take this opportunity, &c.,
[Inclosure 2 in No 31.]
Mr. Heap to Mr.
Cox.
Consulate-General of the United States,
Constantinople, October 14, 1885.
Sir: I have the honor to inclose copy of a
dispatch from Mr. Stevens, United States consul at Smyrna, No. 134, of
the 5th instant, with two inclosures relating to the imposition of a
double school tax—Government and municipal—on the property of foreigners
at Mytilene.
As I have no information that any American citizens own real estate at
Mytilene, I would respectfully suggest that the only notice necessary to
be taken of this measure is the presentation of a protest at the Porte,
to prevent the act of the governmental authorities of Mytilene, if
carried into effect without opposition, from serving as a precedent for
similar action in the other provinces of the empire.
I am, &c.,
[Page 873]
[Inclosure 3 in No. 31.]
Mr. Stevens to Mr.
Heap.
Consulate of the United States,
Smyrna, October 5,
1885.
Sir: I have the honor to transmit herewith copy
of a communication just recived from M. M. Fottion, our consular agent
at Mytilene, inclosing copy of a circular issued by the governor of that
island, both having reference to the levying of a school tax upon the
property of foreigners, and to ask that you will lay them before the
legation for such action, if any, as may be deemed advisable.
It would appear that the objection of foreign residents of Mytilene is
not to the payment of a school tax levied either by the Ottoman
Government or the local community, but to the payment of a double tax as
now exacted, namely, one by the Government and one by the community.
Heretofore, I believe, foreign residents in Mytilene were compelled to
pay only a school tax imposed by the communities where their real estate
was located.
I am, &c.,
