Mr. Terrell to Mr. Gresham.
Constantinople, July 29, 1893. (Received August 17.)
Sir: On receipt of your dispatch No. 14 of July 5, 1893, with inclosure, and which directed me to ascertain the position of the Turkish Government regarding the right of Jews to purchase and sell land in Jerusalem, I called upon the grand vizier. He stated to me that the restrictions heretofore existing had been modified, and that no obstruction would be placed in the way of Mr. Rose to sell his land in Jerusalem if the sale is made to a citizen.
He stated that the Government desired to prevent the alienation of the land to nonresidents, and to those who wished to purchase for speculative purposes with no intention to reside upon the property when bought.
On his promise to remove any obstacle in the way of any one who, being the owner of land, desired to sell it to a purchaser not an alien and who wished to live upon it, I gave him the name of Mr. Rose.
The manifest policy of the Government is to prevent the acquisition of land in Jerusalem by nonresidents and to discourage its transfer for speculative purposes. Should further information be desired I will procure and transmit copies of the laws and orders pertaining to land transfers in Jerusalem.
I have, etc.,