REMOVAL OF RESTRICTIONS ON THE EMIGRATION OF THE WIVES AND MINOR CHILDREN OF NATURALIZED CITIZENS OF OTTOMAN ORIGIN. File No. 3058/7-A. The Acting Secretary of State to Ambassador Leishman. No. 417.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, August 31, 1908. SIR: To enable the department to answer inquiries on the subject, you are requested to report, in view of the new political conditions existing in Turkey, whether there has been, or probably will be, any change in the attitude of the Turkish Government in the matters of assessment of personal taxes in Turkey against former Ottoman subjects, and the emigration of their relatives other than wives and minor children. I am, etc., File No. 3058/4-7. No. 784.] ALVEY A. ADEE. Ambassador Leishman to the Secretary of State. AMERICAN EMBASSY, Constantinople, September 28, 1908. 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., J. G. A. LEISHMAN. [Inclosure 1.] No. 785.] Ambassador Leishman to Consul Young. AMERICAN EMBASSY, Constantinople, August 3, 1908. 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., JOHN G. A. LEISHMAN. [Inclosure 2.] No. 331.] Consul Young to Ambassador Leishman. AMERICAN CONSULATE, 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 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.] EVAN E. YOUNG. The Ministry for Foreign Affairs to the American Embassy. SUBLIME PORTE, MINISTRY FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS, 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. File No. 3058/8. No. 785.] Ambassador Leishman to the Secretary of State. AMERICAN EMBASSY, Constantinople, September 28, 1908. SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of the department instruction, No. 417, of the 31st ultimo, inquiring as to the probability of a change in the attitude of the Turkish Government in matters of the assessment of personal taxes in Turkey against former Ottoman subjects and the emigration of their relatives, other than wives and minor children. In reply I beg to say that while the establishment of constitutional government in Turkey removes the restrictions against free travel and renders it possible for everyone to emigrate or immigrate at pleasure, no change has taken place regarding the question of nationality; and until such time as the Ottoman law of 1869 may be amended, persons of Ottoman origin who have secured foreign naturalization contrary to the provisions of said act continue to be regarded as Ottoman subjects and liable for the personal taxes imposed by their parent government; these taxes, as the department is aware, being assessed through the Christian community to which the party belongs, and levied upon the non-Moslem population in lieu of military service. It is quite within the range of possibilities, however, that the law under which the military tax (amounting to about $1.60 per head per annum) is assessed may be changed in the near future, as the program of the progressive party contemplates admitting all classes, irrespective of race or creed, into both army and navy. I have, etc., J. G. A. LEISHMAN. (Mr. O'Brien reports the beginning of the revolution in the streets of Asuncion early on July 2, when the minister of war was taken prisoner; the attacking of the barracks by line regiments of artillery, the police and marines supporting the Government; the continuous bombardment for two days; the occupation by the Government forces of the central police station and other quarters; and the complete destruction of communications. Mr. O'Brien informs Mr. Root that the diplomatic corps intervened, asking protection of the lives of the President and ministers, which were seriously threatened, and that the revolutionary committee gave the diplomatic corps a written guaranty of protection. States that President Ferreira has resigned, and that Vice President Navero, a sympathizer with the revolution, has assumed the Presidency. Says that the loss of life is estimated at 100 to 150, and wounded 400. Mr. O'Brien adds that, as dean, he took the initative in all proceedings of the diplomatic corps, and that both sides expressed thanks for diplomatic intervention.) File No. 352/9. Minister O'Brien to the Secretary of State. [Telegram.-Paraphrase.] AMERICAN LEGATION, (Mr. O'Brien reports that the new President of Paraguay has dissolved the Paraguayan Congress and declared 30 days' martial law. He also says the country continues tranquil.) File No. 352/10. Minister O'Brien to the Secretary of State. [Telegram.-Abstract.-Paraphrase.] AMERICAN LEGATION, (Mr. O'Brien reports that at 3 o'clock, on July 8, the reception day assigned the diplomatic body, the diplomatic representatives of the United States of America, Great Britain, France, Germany, and Italy together visited the minister for foreign affairs of the new Government.) File No. 352/12-13. Minister O'Brien to the Secretary of State. No. 28, Paraguayan series.] AMERICAN LEGATION, Asuncion, July 16, 1908. SIR: The inclosed report, drawn up by me as dean of the diplomatic corps, covers fully the proceedings taken by that body in connection with the revolution which broke out in Asuncion on July 2, 1908. I am, etc., E. C. O'BRIEN. [Inclosure 1.] DIPLOMATIC CORPS, Asuncion, Paraguay, July 2-8, 1908. In response to a note addressed by the American minister, Edward C. O'Brien, as dean of the diplomatic corps, referring to the chaotic situation arising from the revolution that broke out at daybreak in the streets of Asuncion on July 2, and intrusted to a Red Cross messenger for delivery, there assembled in the afternoon of that day at half past 2 o'clock in the apartments of the American minister in the Hotel Hispano Americano, in a part of the city occupied by the revolutionary forces, his excellency, Mr. J. A. Fabre, the minister resident of France; Chevalier Hector Gazzaniga, the Italian chargé d'affaires; Dr. Felix Bocayuva, chargé d'affaires ad interim of Brazil; Mr. Alfredo Silva y Antuña, the Uruguayan chargé d'affaires ad interim; Mr. Cecil Gosling, the British chargé d'affaires ad interim; and Dr. Carlos Guttierrez, the Bolivian chargé d'affaires ad interim. These, with Dr. Francisco Olshausen, the German chargé d'affaires, and Mr. Alfonso Laferrere, the Argentine chargé d'affaires, form the diplomatic corps actually in Paraguay. Dr. Olshausen was in the interior of the country, and it was surmised that the absence of Mr. Laferrere was accounted for by the fact that his legation was within the lines defended by the forces of Gen. Ferreira, and it was not possible for him to cross the firing line. Mr. O'Brien stated that Dr. Eusebio Ayala, a member of the revolutionary committee, had that morning at 9 o'clock asked him, on the part of the revolutionary forces, to use his friendly offices to bring about a cessation of hostilities in order that the contending parties might confer with the object of coming to terms and thereby preventing a terrible and useless loss of life. As from the hotel many dead and wounded could be seen, he had readily acceded, but had required that the revolutionary forces should cease firing, hoist a flag of truce, and furnish him with an escort to the headquarters of the revolutionary forces. Accompanied by Mr. Owsley, secretary of the American Legation, and a military escort, he had then gone to the revolutionary headquarters and been presented by Dr. Ayala to Mr. Adolfo Riquelme, chairman of the revolutionary committee, and to Maj. Jara, the commander of the revolutionary forces, and they had confirmed what Dr. Ayala had said. That on his arrival a flag of truce had at once been hoisted over the building and an unarmed officer had proceeded with another white flag toward headquarters of Gen. Ferreira's forces under Commandant Garcia, chief of police, but the officer had unexpectedly and hastily returned, reporting that the police had furiously fired on him and that he found it too perilous to deliver the message. That, at Mr. O'Brien's suggestion, one of the hospital corps carrying a Red Cross ensign had been sent on the same errand. but the bearer of this flag had also returned saying that he had been repeatedly fired upon. As Mr. O'Brien had been in the barracks a little over an hour, during which time the Government forces had kept up a steady fire upon the headquarters of the revolutionary party, he had therefore determined to return to the hotel and consult his colleagues. No sooner had he left the barracks than the revolutionary forces had begun, all along the line, a terrible onslaught upon their adversaries. While returning from the barracks and crossing the streets an officer, Capt. Miguel Acosta, and a soldier of the escort had been wounded. |