Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, With the Annual Message of the President Transmitted to Congress December 5, 1898
Mr. Hay to Mr. Straus.
Washington, November 21, 1898.
Sir: I inclose for your information a copy of correspondence between the Department and Mr. Ravndal, our consul at Beirut, in relation to the refusal of the Turkish authorities at Beirut to allow Mr. Balzer and his wife, American citizens, to land at that place, because of their Jewish faith.
I am, etc.,
Mr. Ravndal to Mr. Moore.
Beirut, September 28, 1898.
Sir: In confirmation of my dispatch No. 11, I have the honor to inclose herewith a copy of my dispatch No. 24 to the consulate-general in regard to Mr. Balzer and his wife, Americans of Jewish origin, who, on account of their creed, have been subject to various hardships by the local Turkish authorities and are now threatened with banishment.
I am, etc.,
United States Consul.
Mr. Ravndal to Mr. Dickinson.
Beirut, September 24, 1898.
Sir: I have the honor to inform you that on September 19 I sent you a telegram as follows:
Two more Americans of Jewish extraction landed to-day after much difficulty. Unless you intervene, all nine will be expelled. A stay of twenty days granted by vilayet.
On Saturday, September 17, at about 10 a.m., I learned that an American citizen and his wife were detained on board a French steamer in port on account of their being Jews. They had been refused admittance at the landing place in Beirut, as well as previously in Jaffa.
At my request they sent me their passport, which proved to be dated August 9, 1898, but lacking the required Turkish visa. I beg to remark at once, however, that no mention of this defect has been made by any of the Turkish officials to whom the passport has been submitted; their [Page 1090] only objection being the Jewish origin of its bearers, Mr. and Mrs. Balzer.
A dragoman was immediately dispatched to the landing place, but, as usual, the landing-place officials wanted an order from the governor-general. As his excellency had not as yet arrived from his summer residence in Lebanon, his office hours being from 12 to 4 p.m., and as the steamer was about to leave for Haifa, the dragoman hastened to the office of the chief of police, to whom he submitted the case, asking that this man and his wife be treated like the seven Americans who were now under the protection of the consulate pending a final adjustment of their grievances in Constantinople. The chief of police conducted himself in a manner very courteous and obliging, and consented to issue the desired order, only stipulating that the passport in question be left with him until he had reported to the vilayet. This was agreed to by the dragoman, and a United States kavass, who was present in the Serail, soon found himself on the way to the landing place fortified with an order for the release of our clients. The order was duly respected by the landing-place officials, who told the kavass that he could now bring Mr. Balzer and his wife ashore. But unfortunately, before our kavass could reach the steamer, she started for Haifa. This was about 11 o’clock a.m., or an hour after our being notified of the incident. The chief of police, on being informed by the kavass of what had happened, expressed his deep regret, but pointed out that as the steamer was coming back to Beirut on the following day (Sunday) before returning on Monday for Alexandria, no great hardship to our clients would result from this delay.
In the afternoon of the same day matters, however, took a different turn. Word came from the political director that he desired an interview with our dragoman, and we soon learned that the governor-general had heard of the morning episode and had decided not to permit Mr. Balzer and his wife to land under any circumstances. When on former occasions, in violation of high orders, he had admitted Americans temporarily pending telegraphic instructions from Constantinople, this had been done as a courtesy to the American consul. He could not grant such favors indefinitely without incurring the displeasure of the Sublime Porte. His excellency would hail with delight an agreement between the two Governments. As it was, his instructions and ours seemed wide apart. In the absence of a definite understanding, he was in duty bound not to admit these “Jews.”
This looked rather gloomy; but being reluctant and averse to giving in, I, on Monday, again addressed the governor general, particularly emphasizing the fact that the very question at issue was now before the proper authorities at Constantinople, and finally asking that Mr. and Mrs. Balzer be accorded the same limited privileges as the party of seven. His excellency feared it might take long before an agreement would be reached in Constantinople, but at last offered to grant my request, provided I promised to send all nine away in fifteen days, if no higher orders from Constantinople in the meantime should arrive. I insisted on thirty days, in view of the recent change of ministers of the United States at Constantinople, but this the governor-general did not dare to concede. We finally agreed on twenty days as a compromise, and so, after releasing Mr. and Mrs. Balzer, I sent you the telegram above referred to and quoted.
* * * * * * *
I am, etc.,
United States Consul,
Mr. Adee to Mr. Ravndal.
Washington, October 28, 1898.
Sir: Your dispatch No. 13, of the 28th ultimo, reporting the refusal of the Turkish authorities to permit the landing of two American citizens on account of their Jewish birth, is received.
In reply I have to inform you that the Turkish minister at this capital informed the Department in a note of the 9th ultimo that the entry of foreign Israelites into Palestine is prohibited and that orders have been issued to prevent the landing of Jewish immigrants.
On the 11th instant, however, the Turkish minister, in response to a request from this Department, directed the consul-general at New York to visé the passport of Rev. S. L. Beiler, a Methodist Episcopal minister of Jewish birth. It would thus appear that the restriction is against Jewish immigrants in bodies and does not apply to travelers or transient sojourners.
The legation at Constantinople has been advised of this correspondence and directed to ascertain the precise status of the matter.
You will keep the legation fully advised on the subject.
I am, sir, etc.,
Second Assistant Secretary.