No. 1101.
Mr. Adee
to Mr. Straus.
Washington, November 6, 1888.
Sir: Mr. King’s dispatch, No. 129, of the 22d ultimo, inclosing two notes from the Sublime Porte concerning recent interference with Is raelites going to Jerusalem, has been received. In the first of these notes, dated October 4, 1888, the minister of foreign affairs states that the measure concerning the Israelites going to Palestine shall not be applied except to those who emigrate in mass, and that no obstacle shall be opposed to the sojourn of those who are not in this class; and in the second it is stated that the measures with regard to the three Israelites, American citizens, who arrived at Jaffa on the 22d of August were necessarily withdrawn in consequence of instructions which have been forwarded in the foregoing sense.
The corresponding announcement was received at the Department a few days ago from Mavroyeni Bey, the Turkish minister at this capital, and was sent to you on the 3d instant without comment.
It is now observed that the diplomatic body in Constantinople intends to consider the matter, and while the Department does not attempt to conjecture the course of such joint discussion, it does not suppose you will have taken any very decided ground as to the right of their colonization or pilgrimage in mass, but it is presumed your discretion will have led you to reserve full liberty to consider the case of any individual American citizen who may be denied impartial treaty rights because of imputed or admitted Hebraism.
I am, etc.,
Acting Secretary.