File No. 3058/4–7.
Ambassador Leishman
to the Secretary of State.
American Embassy,
Constantinople, September 28,
1908.
No. 784.]
Sir: Referring to the question of emigration of
the wives and minor children of naturalized citizens of Ottoman origin I
have the honor to advise the department that henceforth no action upon
the part of the Government will be necessary, as, according to the
constitution, all Ottoman subjects enjoy the right of free travel.
This will relieve the department as well as the embassy of a large amount
of detail work It is safe to say that at least 75 per cent of the time
of the consul at Harput has hitherto been taken up in looking after
emigration cases.
This is another beneficial result of the establishment of constitutional
government in Turkey.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure 1.]
Ambassador Leishman to Consul Young.
American Embassy,
Constantinople, August 3, 1908.
No. 785.]
Sir: I will request you to inform the
embassy if, as the result of the constitution, the former
restrictions on the emigration of the wives and minor children of
Armenians who have acquired American citizenship have actually been
abolished, and whether they are at liberty to depart in freedom I
await such news in order to inform the department that the necessity
is no longer incumbent of facilitating emigration cases.
I am, etc.,
[Inclosure 2.]
Consul Young to
Ambassador Leishman.
American Consulate,
Harput, August 24,
1908.
No. 331.]
Sir: In reply to your No 785 of the 3d
instant, in reference to the matter of the issuance of passports by
the local administration to the wives and minor children of American
naturalized citizens, I have the honor to report that in
[Page 758]
accordance with an
instruction from the minister of the interior, dated June 19, 1324
(July 2, 1908), passports are now freely granted to all people who
desire to leave the country and against whom no suit is pending in
the local courts.
As you no doubt are aware the passports as formerly granted contained
a renunciation by the emigrant of allegiance to the Ottoman
Government and the promise not to return to this country The
passports now granted correspond more to those issued by European
countries, and the holder is not only not required to renounce
allegiance to the Ottoman Government, but is permitted to return to
this country at his pleasure.
These passports are now granted, as a general rule, to whoever
applies No distinction is made between those cases where the husband
is a citizen of a foreign country and where not In granting the new
passports the Government does not require the payment of the road,
personal, or other taxes of the husband in the foreign country, or
security for his future taxes I would state, however, that I am of
the opinion that hereafter all back taxes of the husband must be
paid before the passport is issued, but no security will be required
for the payment of the future taxes.
In conclusion, I would beg to state that if the present policy
continues there will be no need for any official action by our
Government or its representatives looking toward the facilitating of
emigration cases.
I should also inform you that these passports are now granted in two
days from date of application, while formerly the cases lasted
several weeks and sometimes months even with our best
assistance.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure
3.—Translation.]
The Ministry for Foreign
Affairs to the American
Embassy.
Sublime Porte, Ministry for Foreign
Affairs,
Constantinople, September 26,
1908.
Note verbale: In reply to the note verbale which the American Embassy
kindly addressed to the ministry for foreign affairs, dated 13th of
August last, numbered 1024, the ministry for foreign affairs has the
honor to inform the embassy that, according to a communication of
the imperial ministry of the interior, since the reestablishment of
the constitution, all subjects of the Empire being free to travel
abroad, there is no need to request the imperial authorities of
Chemisguzek to permit Mrs Marie Dirabian and her daughter to join
their husband and father, residing in the United States.
