Mr. Leishman to Mr. Hay.

No. 836.]

Sir: Referring further to my dispatch No. 822, of June 27, inclosing copy of the new stamp act (Loi sur le timbre) which the Turkish Government proposed putting into effect on the 1st of July (old style) I beg to inclose herewith, for the Department’s further information, copy of a recent circular note issued by the Sublime Porte making some concessions in the proposed act; also copy of legation’s reply thereto.

These concessions were prompted by the action of the British ambassador, who agreed to accept the new stamp act providing the changes mentioned were agreed to.

* * * * * * *

I have, etc.,

John G. A. Leishman.
[Inclosure 1.—Translation.]

Circular note verbale.

The ministry for foreign affairs had the honor to receive the responsive note verbale that the legation of the United States of America kindly addressed to it on the 13th of June last relating to the new law on stamps.

The legation states that as this law must be subjected to deep study the time between its communication and the date set for its being put in force is insufficient, and that until an agreement is reached on this subject the stamp law at present in force must continue to be applied to its citizens.

The imperial ministry begs to point out that any delay in the enforcement of the new law, besides the considerable losses it will occasion to the imperial [Page 842] treasury, will cause a great inconvenience to the service. Moreover, the Imperial Government taking into consideration the objections raised with regard to article 51 and to article 54 of Title IV relative to the exemptions as already stricken from the second paragraph of said article 51, modified article 54 in the following manner: “Avis des ambassades et consulats” which will not be exhibited before the Ottoman tribunals.

In view of the haste shown by the Sublime Porte to satisfy the criticisms which have been presented to it on this subject, the imperial ministry is pleased to hope that the legation of the United States of America will be willing, in its sentiments of high equity and its desire so many times manifested, to facilitate the action of the imperial authorities, to whom it expects to give the necessary instructions, in order that the law in question be equally applied to its citizens on the date set forth, viz, the 1/14 of July, 1904.

[Inclosure 2.—Translation.]

Note verbale.

With its note verbale of the 6th of July, 1904, the imperial ministry of foreign affairs kindly communicated to the legation of the United States of America some modifications introduced into the new stamp law.

The imperial ministry at the same time expressed the desire that the necessary instructions should be given by the United States legation, in view of the application of the law in question, to American subjects on the appointed date, namely, the 1/14 of July of the current year.

In reply the legation of the United States of America begs to observe that so long as the instructions already requested on this subject from its Government are not in hand it does not feel in a position to enter into any discussion on this matter.

It is owing to this consideration that the legation of the United States can but reiterate the conclusions of its note verbale dated June 23, 1904, relative to the application of the law in question to its citizens on the appointed date, i. e., 1/14 of July of this year.