Mr. Terrell to Mr.
Gresham.
[Extract.]
Legation of
the United States,
Constantinople, October 2, 1893.
(Received October 19.)
No. 72.]
Sir: I have to call your attention to recent
outrages upon the naturalized citizens of the United States of Turkish birth
who have recently returned to the Turkish Empire.
Through the consul-general here I have just ascertained that one A. Metzig, a
native of Bourgas, was about the 20th ultimo arrested in Salonica, a Turkish
town below the Dardanelles, by order of the governor-general there, who
claims to be acting under instructions from the Porte. His passport, which
was regular, describing him as a citizen of the United States, was indorsed
by the Turkish consul in New York. He was imprisoned and afterwards removed
(being compelled to pay his own fare) up to Uskut, from which place they
intended to send him away, as a note from him informed the consul. He was
seized at a hotel and not permitted to take with him his trunk and personal
effects, including a check, which was his only means of support.
Here in Constantinople only a few days since, another man, Paul G. Redighian,
a naturalized citizen of the United States, bearing the passport of the
Government, dated 1st day of August, 1893, and bearing your signature, was
arrested and deprived of his passport. On demand it was delivered to the
consul-general, who demanded also his release. No offense was alleged, and
the man was released on bail for one day. Since then no information
regarding him has been obtained. I learned of his case yesterday.
I inclose for your information the copy of a letter from P. H. Lazarro, U. S.
consular agent at Salonica, to W. E. Hess, consul-general, and copies of two
notes from Metzig to the consular agent, each dated the 21st instant.
The certificate of the clerk of the district court for the district of
Massachusetts shows that Redighian was naturalized on the 22d of July,
1893.
My interpreter and secretary have been unable to copy my note on this subject
to the minister of foreign affairs with its translation in time for its
delivery to-day, and I will go at once to the Porte and make my demand
verbally, giving notice that it is prepared in writing and will be sent
Monday. I will attach it as an inclosure.
September 30, 9 p.m.—Continuing the subject of this dispatch, I have to
inform you that I called at the Porte this afternoon and made the demands
referred to in inclosure 3. I demanded with emphasis but respect, that the
man who had been arrested here should be delivered to me at the legation
office, and that Metzig should be placed in possession of his personal
effects and permitted to return to Salonica.
The laws of Turkey prohibiting emigration were urged as justifying arrests.
This I refused to discuss, telling him that when he permitted his Armenian
to stay five years in my country and procure a passport with your name and
the great seal of state to it, the protection of the flag of the United
States was over him and would protect him around the world.
The manifest reluctance to comply with my demands rendered it necessary that
I should repeat in substance all that is contained in inclosure 3. Finally I
agreed that his final answer might be deferred until to-morrow (Sunday)
afternoon, for I bad demanded that Redighian
[Page 686]
should be brought to me there while I was at the Porte
and finally formally delivered at the legation office. I proposed to keep
him when delivered until your instructions could be received. I think the
grand vizier and Sultan must be consulted, and also that the demand will be
complied with.
The interview was protracted, and these arrests are evidently intended as a
bold prelude to treaty stipulations, fixing the status of Turks hereafter
naturalized. The necessity of such a treaty was suggested by Said Pasha, and
since former dispatches from Secretary Bayard to this legation favored such
treaty I readily consented to negotiate with him on the subject in
subordination to your instructions, but with the distinct declaration that
my demands must first be complied with and American passports respected by
the delivery “to my hand” of Redighian. I will telegraph you to-morrow when
the answer of the Porte is received.
Monday, October 2.—Yesterday passed and no answer from the Porte was
received. This morning the man Redighian was delivered at the office of the
consul-general. He is under my control until your answer to my telegram is
received.
The transactions referred to in this dispatch were of so important a nature
that I have included them in one dispatch in the order of their
occurrence.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure 1 in No. 72.]
Mr. Lazarro to Mr.
Hess.
U. S.
Vice-Consulate,
Salonica, September 22,
1893.
Sir: I beg to make yon acquainted with the
following facts: Yesterday morning, the 21st, I received a note which I
inclose herewith in original, asking my help for a United States
citizen, who alleges having been unduly imprisoned. The hour being a
very early one, the clerk of the consulate whom I dispatched to the
prison was unable to see any of the officials—had, however, an interview
with the prisoner, who made the following statement: “I arrived two days
ago from the United States where I have lived seven years, and was
naturalized two years ago. Last night I was arrested at my hotel and
brought here without knowing the reason of my arrest.” My clerk managed
to see the passport, unofficially, and declares the same to have been in
good order issued by the Department of State, and indorsed by the
Turkish consulate in New York. About noon I dispatched my clerk, this
time accompanied by the dragoman of the consulate, to the director of
political affairs, in order to ask for the delivery of said passport,
and to make the necessary remarks on the illegal arrest of a United
States citizen. At the same time I received a second note from the
prisoner, which you will find here included. Youssouf Effendi, the
director of political affairs, alleged that the person in question
having been born in Turkey, Bourgas,* and being of Armenian nationality, could not be
considered by the Turkish authorities as a United States citizen, and in
consequence, could by no means “depend”† of the U. S. consulate. At the request of
my clerk to see the governor-general himself, Youssouf Effendi replied
that his excellency was not visible for the day, but gave his word to
defer the expulsion of the prisoner, who was to be forwarded this
morning to Uskut, and thence to the frontier, till I could have a
personal interview with the governor-general.
This morning I saw his excellency, who informed me that he had given
orders two days ago for the expulsion of the person in question, and he
was himself obeying orders from Constantinople, concerning Armenians who
had become naturalized
[Page 687]
United
States citizens. His excellency further answered me that he knew nothing
of the promise made by Youssouf Effendi, on the day before, to delay the
departure of the prisoner. The United States citizen in question was
sent this morning to Uskut without my having been informed, and before
my interview with the governor-general.
I avail myself of this occasion, sir, to ask instructions on my future
conduct regarding these cases of contested nationality, which, I am
sorry to say, are very often repeated. I further beg to draw your
attention to the behavior of the director of political affairs, Youssouf
Effendi, who loses no occasion to create difficulties in all affairs
concerning the consulate.
I am, etc.,
[Inclosure 2 in No. 72.]
Mr. Metzig to Mr.
Lazarro.
Salonica, September 21,
1893.
Dear Sir: Please make it your business to see
me before noon. I am a United States citizen; came here two days ago.
The officers took my passport and put me in prison at Konak, not
explaining why. Please see to me, help me out, and oblige,
Yours truly,
Salonica, September 21,
1893.
Dear Sir: I am really astonished not having
seen yon until now, as you promised. On the strict requirement of the
police, I was obliged to pay my ticket to Uskut, where they intended to
send me off. I do not know for what reason, and then I do not really
know what to do. I have a trunk lying in the hotel and a check drawn on
a banking house in London, which I would get cashed in the Imperial
Ottoman Bank office. The cashier on my presentation of the same check
asked me to bring them some reference. I am really vexed at the manner
they treat me and am very unquiet, not having a second visit on your
part. Asking your immediate kind help,
I am, etc.,
[Inclosure 3 in No. 72.]
Mr. Terrell to
Said Pasha.
Legation of the United States,
Constantinople, September 30,
1893.
Excellency: I am reliably informed that about
the 20th ultimo a United States citizen, A. Metzig, was, without being
charged with crime, arrested at Salonica by the Turkish officers, and at
Konak was placed in prison. His passport was taken from him and after
being imprisoned several days he was sent away without being permitted
to take with him his trunk and personal effects, which were left in the
hotel in which he was arrested. This man had just arrived from America,
where he became a citizen of the United States two years ago. He bore a
passport as a citizen of the United States, which was indorsed by the
Turkish consul at New York. Youssouf Effendi, the local director of
political affairs at Salonica, declared that Metzig having been born in
Bourgas, could not be regarded as a citizen of the United States, and
could not be under the protection of the United States vice-consul at
Salonica. The governor-general informed the vice-consul that he had
ordered the removal of Metzig beyond the Ottoman Empire, under orders
from the Porte, and that his orders applied to all returning natives of
Armenia. I am also informed, now for the first time, that other cases of
a similar character have occurred at Salonica.
Paul G. Redighian, a citizen of the United States, while bearing a
passport signed by the Hon. Walter Q. Gresham, Secretary of State, and
attested by the broad seal of his office, was here in Constantinople on
the 26th day of this month restrained of his liberty by an officer of
your Government and deprived of his passport. The passport was, on
demand of the consul-general, delivered at the consul’s office, but what
disposition has been made of the man is not known.
[Page 688]
The arrest of the men can not he justified on the ground that they
emigrated to America without obtainining the consent of His Imperial
Majesty. Such men, naturalized as citizens of the United States, will,
when they return to Turkey, be as jealously protected against arbitrary
arrest as if they had been born in American territory, until the
Government of His Imperial Majesty and the United States mutually agree
to the contrary. The right of expatriation is held so sacred by the
United States that it is beyond the pale of diplomatic negotiation. If
an American citizen commits a crime against the laws of Turkey, he is
liable to arrest and punishment under the forms prescribed by treaty,
but not for the offense of becoming an American citizen. If the
Government of His Imperial Majesty desires to send away naturalized
citizens who return to Turkey they must be protected against
imprisonment; this legation should be informed of that fact without
their arrest, and then under instructions from Washington it can confer
with you in the effort to reach an adjustment satisfactory to both
Governments.
The uniform promptness with which his highness the grand vizier and your
excellency have always acted in correcting any wrong brought to your
notice, precludes me from believing that you directed these arrests.
The flagrant conduct of your officers in arresting and imprisoning
American citizens who were peacefully sojourning here, and who have
passports which are respected by all nations, compels me to protest
against such conduct as unwarranted by precedent. I respectfully demand—
- 1.
- That the citizen arrested and imprisoned at Salonica be placed
in possession of the personal effects of which he was deprived,
and permitted to return to Salonica if he desires, until an
adjustment of his case be made between Turkey and the the United
States.
- 2.
- That the citizen Paul G. Redighian be delivered to me at my
legation, Reserving the right to make such other demands as my
Government may require,
I am, etc.,
