Although the present Turkish Government has no power of control over the
local Turkish authorities in the interior of Anatolia, it is considered
proper to thus register with the only recognized Turkish Government a
protest against such illegal taxation. I have informed all the Delegates
of the United States High Commissioner in Turkey and furnished them
copies of this verbal note.
If the Department desires to take any further action I request
instructions.
[Enclosure]
The High Commissioner at Constantinople
(Bristol) to the Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs, through the Swedish
Legation in Turkey
Constantinople, 14
August, 1920.
It has come to the attention of the United States High Commissioner
that the Turkish local authorities in Talas, Cesarea, Marsivan,
Sivas, Brusa and other interior places are demanding taxes upon
property of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign
Missions, which properties were, by special Irade of His Majesty, the Sultan, placed upon the list of
American educational and philanthropic properties. These properties
were recognized by Imperial Irade as
belonging to the “American Benevolent Foundation in Turkey”. By
virtue of said Irade of His Majesty, the
Sultan, and the arrangement in connection with its issuance, these
properties were exempted from taxes, thus placing these properties
on a footing of equality with those under native auspices, used for
like purposes.
The information received from various places in the interior
indicates that this old arrangement, made even before the
establishment of the constitution, is now being overlooked. The
United States High Commissioner desires to register, in a most
emphatic manner, a protest against the abrogation of this exemption
from taxation of the properties herein referred to without
consulting the United States Government. Under the circumstances the
levying of these taxes is considered unjust and illegal. The Ottoman
Government
[Page 765]
is hereby
informed that if the local Turkish authorities persist in requiring
these taxes to be paid that they will be paid under protest, without
prejudice to any claims to restitution.
Further, it has come to the attention of the United States High
Commissioner that the local authorities of the Ottoman Government in
Samsoun and other places in the interior are levying taxes in
contravention of the Capitulations. The Ottoman Government has
previously been informed that the United States Government does not
recognize that the Capitulations have been abrogated.
The United States High Commissioner desires that the Ottoman
Government will take the necessary steps to give the necessary
orders to the local authorities of the Ottoman Government in order
to protect the full rights of American citizens in all parts of the
Ottoman Empire. It is requested that the United States High
Commissioner be informed regarding the steps taken by the Ottoman
Government.
