Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, With the Annual Message of the President Transmitted to Congress December 3, 1906, (In two parts), Part II

Minister Leishman to the Secretary of State.

American Legation,
Constantinople, February 10, 1906.

No. 1280.]

Sir: Referring to the department’s No. 708 of October 10, 1904, inclosing copy of a petition addressed to the Sultan by Moses B. Harutun, the original having been given to the Ottoman legation at Washington, in which exemption from personal taxes is prayed for, I have the honor to inclose copy and translation of a note received from the Sublime Porte upon this subject.

The applicant should be instructed to address himself to the Ottoman legation at Washington should he wish to follow the advice contained in the inclosed note.

I have, etc.,

John G. A. Leishman.

[Inclosure.—Note verbale.—Translation.]

The Minister for Foreign Affairs to Minister Leishman.

Sublime Porte,
Constantinople, February 3, 1906.

The ministry for foreign affairs has received with its inclosure the note verbale which the United States legation has been good enough to send it on October 22, 1904, No. 467, concerning the request of a certain Moses Baghdonian Harutun to obtain exemption from all personal taxes in Turkey.

As according to the advices furnished by the governor-general of the Vilayet of Aleppo the above-mentioned individual is indebted to the treasury for the sum of 1,850 piasters for military service exemption and taxes and “temettu” taxes for the years 1300–1322 (Turkish style). The imperial ministry before taking a decision on his behalf begs the United States legation to kindly request him to pay his debts.