Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, With the Annual Message of the President Transmitted to Congress December 3, 1900

Mr. Hay to Mr. Griscom.

Department of State,
Washington, January 11, 1900.

No. 197.]

Sir: I have to acknowledge the receipt of Mr. Straus’s No. 135, of the 15th ultimo, reporting that many naturalized American citizens of Turkish birth have recently returned to Turkey with Ottoman passports, and asking if he is to regard such persons as having abandoned their American citizenship, and, therefore, to issue passports to them.

In reply I have to say that a person receiving a Turkish passport is not entitled to receive a passport from the United States.

The legation should refuse passports to all persons of Turkish origin who do not present an American passport or authenticated naturalization papers; and it should regard the possession of a Turkish passport as sufficient evidence that the holder should not receive one from the United States.

I am, etc.,

John Hay.