Mr. Leishman to Mr.
Hay.
American Legation,
Constantinople, July 13,
1904.
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.,
[Inclosure
1.—Translation.]
Circular note verbale.
Sublime Porte, Ministry for Foreign
Affairs,
July 6,
1904.
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.
American Legation,
Constantinople, July 12, 1904.
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.
