[Inclosure.]
Consul Young to
Chargé Jay.
American Consulate,
Harput,
Turkey, April 4,
1906.
No. 126.]
Sir: I beg to acknowledge the receipt of
the legation’s No. 433, of the 15th ultimo, having reference to the
claim of the four Garabedian brothers, naturalized citizens of
Ottoman origin and now residing at Worcester, Mass., to the effect
that the Turkish Government is trying to enforce taxation on real
estate owned by them in Worcester, and is holding their relative,
Sarkis Apkarian, of Mamouret-ul-Aziz, responsible. An investigation
and report in regard to the matter is requested.
In reply, I beg to state that Mr. Sarkis Apkarian assures me that so
far as he is aware the Turkish Government has made no attempt nor at
any time had the intention to tax the property and real estate in
America of these four brothers.
My own investigation not only substantiates the above statement of
Mr. Apkarian, but, further, raises the doubt as to whether the
Turkish Government has even any knowledge of the fact that these
brothers own real estate in America. Mr. Apkarian further states
that his relatives have probably misunderstood some of his letters
to them.
The investigation of this matter involved to some extent the system
of community taxation which applies to the military tax, but to that
only.
[Page 1410]
At the risk of making this report of greater length than the legation
really-desired, I would respectfully submit the following facts
relative to the imposition of a military tax upon Christian
communities whose members are subjects of the Ottoman Empire.
All male Moslems between the ages of 20 and 40 and subjects of this
Empire are liable to military services. From every 180 such persons
1 is annually called into active service.
From yearly reports showing the total amount of money expended in
maintaining the army for that period the Government, a considerable
number of years ago, estimated that the cost of each soldier per
year was about 5,000 piasters. The Christian subjects are excused
from service in the army upon payment of a military tax. As each
group of 180 male Moslem subjects was annually required to furnish 1
recruit, so each group of 180 male Christian subjects was required
to pay a total military tax of 5,000 piasters, i. e., the actual
cost of 1 soldier per year.
The amount per capita for the individual members of this group
increased from 27 to 37 piasters and is now 50. This increase was
accompanied by the statement that the expenses of the army had
likewise increased.
Let us suppose that the enumeration for the current year shows that
there are 180 male Christians in the Harput community. The chief of
this community is notified by the Government that the tax this year
will be 9,000 piasters (180X50). The chief of the community then
apportions this total military tax of 9,000 piasters among the
members according to their financial ability. Some may be called on
for 100 piasters, others for 50, others 20, and probably the names
of some of the poorest members of the community will be omitted
entirely from the list. The chief then hands the list to the
government tax officials, who post it in some public place. Anyone
feeling himself wronged, and who believe he is called upon to pay a
larger amount than he can afford, has the right of appeal to the
vali, who refers the matter to a commission to investigate and
report.
These four brothers in America are subject to this military tax
because their names have never been removed from the local tax roll.
To effect such a removal application must be made by them to your
legation through the Department of State.
The chief of the local Christian community doubtless thought that
these four brothers could easily afford to pay a goodly share of the
total military tax assessed against the community, and accordingly
charged them with 100 piasters each in addition to their own 50
piasters. Should these brothers refuse to pay, this amount would
then of necessity be thrown upon the other members of the
community.
The system of community taxation as applied to the military tax has
in it much to commend. The abuses would appear to arise more from
the maladministration of local officials than through any inherent
defects in the system itself.
In closing permit me to venture the suggestion that the unusually
large amount imposed upon them by the chief of their community,
perhaps due to their reputed ownership of real estate in America,
has undoubtedly led them to make the statement that the Turkish
Government has demanded a tax upon their real estate in
Worcester.
I am, etc.,
