TURKEY. COURTESIES TO U. S. S. KENTUCKY BY TURKISH OFFICIALS. Mr. Griscom to Mr. Hay. [Telegram.-Paraphrase.] LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, (Mr. Griscom requests that arrangements be made for the Kentucky to remain a little longer in order that any impression of hostility may be removed, and states that, with the Department's approval, he will go to Smyrna on December 13, if the affairs of the legation will permit.) Mr. Hay to Mr. Griscom. [Telegram.-Paraphrase.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, December 11, 1900. (Mr. Hay states that the Kentucky has been ordered by the Navy Department to remain.) Mr. Griscom to Mr. Hay. No. 295.] LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR: I have the honor to confirm my telegram of yesterday wherein I request that the battle ship Kentucky be allowed to remain a little longer in Turkish waters in order to remove any impression that its visit here is of a hostile nature. I have to acknowledge the receipt this day of your reply. I have now to report that on the 10th instant I attended a dinner at Yildiz Palace, accompanied by Captain Chester and his staff. I presented these gentlemen to His Majesty in audience before dinner, and after dinner Captain Chester and I were received in a long private audience. The Sultan welcomed Captain Chester cordially, and expressed to him the pleasure he had in entertaining him in Constantinople. During the conversation there was no mention of the diplomatic affairs pending between the two countries beyond the fact that the Sultan stated he had purchased a cruiser from Messrs. Cramp, of Philadelphia. It was apparent that he regarded our questions as absolutely settled, and his evident desire was to convey this impression without using any direct expressions. He evinced a most friendly disposition toward the United States and requested that the President be fully informed as to the reception of Captain Chester and the entertainment at the palace. The dinner was a very direct compliment to the United States, as no other foreigners were invited, and necessarily I was placed at His Majesty's left hand, and at his right was the grand vizier and then Captain Chester. Nearly all the cabinet officials and marshals of the Empire were present. During the dinner His Majesty conversed affably with me and showed a friendly interest in the American Navy and American institutions. He informed me that if the cruiser which he had just bought from Messrs. Cramp was a success he intended to buy in America three or four more of a larger type. He also stated that he had great confidence in the rifles manufactured in America, and that he proposed in the near future to make a large purchase for his army. Captain Chester leaves to-day for Smyrna, and his orders from the Navy Department were to leave for Manila as soon as he returned to his ship. He was desirous of remaining long enough to exchange courtesies with the local Turkish authorities, and it seemed to me desirable that the ship's departure should not be too abrupt, so I therefore telegraphed you as above reported, expressing the hope that the Kentucky be allowed to remain a little longer in Turkish waters. I have, etc., Mr. Hill to Mr. Griscom. LLOYD C. GRISCOM. No. 329.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, SIR: I have to acknowledge the receipt of your dispatch No. 295, of the 12th ultimo, reporting the courtesies shown by the Sultan to Captain Chester and his staff, of the U. S. S. Kentucky, during the recent visit of that vessel to Constantinople. You will express to His Majesty, through the proper channel, this Government's appreciation of the courtesies shown to Captain Chester and his officers. I am, etc., DAVID J. HILL, LIABILITY OF NATURALIZED CITIZENS OF THE UNITED STATES UNDER MILITARY AND EXPATRIATION LAWS OF THEIR NATIVE COUNTRY." NOTICE TO AMERICAN CITIZENS FORMERLY SUBJECTS OF TURKEY WHO CONTEMPLATE RETURNING TO THAT COUNTRY. The information given below is believed to be correct, yet it is not to be considered as official, as it relates to the laws and regulations of a foreign country. a See instruction to Austria-Hungary, December 10, 1900, page 7. The Turkish Government denies the right of a Turk to become a citizen of any other country without the authority of the Turkish Government. His naturalization is therefore regarded by Turkey as void with reference to himself and his children, and he is forbidden to return to Turkey. The consent of the Turkish Government to the naturalization in another country of a former Turk is given only upon condition that the applicant shall stipulate either never to return, or, returning, to regard himself as a Turkish subject. Therefore, if a naturalized American citizen of Turkish origin returns to Turkey he may expect arrest and imprisonment or expulsion. Jews are prohibited from colonizing in Turkish dominions. There is no treaty between the United States and Turkey defining the status of naturalized Americans of Turkish birth returning to Turkey. Passports are required from all persons entering Turkish dominions (Egypt excepted), and persons who enter without passports are liable to fine or imprisonment. The passports should, if possible, be viséed by a Turkish consular officer in the United States. RIGHT OF JEWS TO THREE MONTHS' SOJOURN IN PALESTINE. No. 316.] Mr. Griscom to Mr. Hay. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR: I have the honor to transmit herewith inclosed a copy of a dispatch from Consul Merrill at Jerusalem, wherein he reports that he has been notified of a new order issued by the Ottoman minister of the interior in relation to foreign Jews who visit Palestine. The order applies to all Jews who come to Palestine from other countries as pilgrims or visitors, and it provides as follows: On arriving at Jaffa the visitor must deliver his passport to the Turkish authorities and receive in return a Turkish document. The visitor is allowed to reside in the country three months, at the expiration of which time he must surrender his Turkish permit, receive his passport, and leave. In case they do not leave when requested at the expiration of the time allowed, the consuls of different nationalities are to be called upon to compel their subjects to depart. Mr. Merrill points out that the only hold the consulate has on naturalized American Jews in Palestine is the possession of their passport and citizenship papers. Also, they do not always depart at Jaffa, the usual point of arrival. If they do not leave at the expiration of three months, the consul must have authority to send them away in case they refuse to go. The refusal is generally given on the grounds of having no money. As I am transmitting this dispatch at once for the information and instructions of the Department, I have not yet ascertained what action, if any, the other foreign missions propose to take in the matter. I have, etc., LLOYD C. GRISCOM. [Inclosure.] Consul Merrill to Mr. Griscom. UNITED STATES CONSULATE, SIR: We have received from the governor of Jerusalem a copy of an order from the Turkish minister of the interior at Constantinople relative to Jews who visit Palestine. Said order, we are notified, goes into effect on the 15th of January Greek style, or January 29 of our reckoning. The order applies to all Jews who come to Palestine from other countries as pilgrims or visitors. The conditions are as follows: On arriving at Jaffa the visitor must deliver his passport to the Turkish authorities and receive therefor a Turkish document. The visitor is allowed to reside in the country three months. At the expiration of that time he must leave the country, surrender his Turkish permit, and receive therefor his passport. In case that foreign subjects do not leave when requested at the expiration of their permits, the consuls of the different nationalities are to be called upon to compel their subjects to go away. When an American naturalized Jew arrives in Palestine the only hold we have upon him is his passport and citizen papers, if he has any. If his passport is deposited with the Turkish authorities at Jaffa, where he lands, what shall we do? Again, visitors frequently make their way north up through the country and embark at Beirut. But if their passports have been deposited with the Turkish authorities at Jaffa, and held by them, what can be done? If such visitors are obliged to leave at the expiration of the three months, the consul must be authorized to send them away in case they refuse to go. They will almost certainly plead that they can not go because they "have no money." This order concerns this consulate more than any other United States consulate in Turkey, for it is well known that to one naturalized Jew landing at any other port, 25 or 30 land at Jaffa, the port of Jerusalem. It will be seen at once that in this matter definite instructions are needed. Otherwise the same old chronic trouble will reappear; the consul says one thing and the local Turkish authorities say another thing; there will be constant irritation and annoyance. I should have communicated these facts earlier to the legation, but it is only within a few days that we received the order in question. I remain, etc., SELAH MERRILL, Mr. Hay to Mr. Griscom. United States Consul. No. 354.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, February 28, 1901. SIR: I have to acknowledge the receipt of your dispatch No. 316, of the 31st ultimo, reporting that you are advised by the United States consul at Jerusalem that the Ottoman minister of the interior has issued a new order respecting the sojourn in Palestine of foreign Jews who go there as pilgrims or visitors. You state the provisions of the order and request instructions in the premises. Setting aside the objectionable feature whereby a racial or religious distinction is made in regard to Jews, and of which feature this Government finds difficulty in taking official cognizance, in view of our constitutional inhibition against any disability founded on creed, the Turkish order now reported appears to establish the rule of three months' permitted sojourn of American visitors to Palestine, for which we have always contended. See instructions to Mr. Straus, No. 13, dated October 14, 1898, and subsequent correspondence, on the sub ject of the Ottoman regulations respecting the entrance of foreign Jews into Palestine. It should, however, be made clear to the Turkish authorities that the consuls of the United States in Turkish jurisdiction are neither directed nor permitted by law to assist the Turkish officers in their execution of municipal laws or regulations, and therefore could not intervene to constrain the departure of an American citizen from Turkish jurisdiction. Neither can the consul be called upon to forego the performance of his duty in case an American citizen should be harshly dealt with in contravention of treaty or law. As the consul is without authority to compel a visiting American citizen to deposit his passport and citizen papers in the consulate, it would seem that he is not in a position to contest the Turkish requirement that such papers be surrendered to the Ottoman officers during the time of sojourn in Palestine. I am, etc., JOHN HAY. INDEMNITY CLAIMS OF UNITED STATES CITIZENS, SETTLEMENT OF. (SEE FOREIGN RELATIONS, 1899, P. 765 ET SEQ., AND FOREIGN RELATIONS, 1900, P. 906 ET SEQ.) Mr. Hay to Mr. Griscom. [Telegram.-Paraphrase.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, February 27, 1901. (Mr. Hay states that the President expects the fulfillment of the promises so often repeated by the Sultan, and directs Mr. Griscom to insist upon immediate payment of the indemnity by the Government of Turkey.) Mr. Leishman to Mr. Hay. [Telegram.-Paraphrase.] LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, (Mr. Leishman takes pleasure in reporting the settlement of the indemnity claims, and states that the sum of 19,000 pounds sterling has been deposited to his credit in the Imperial Ottoman Bank, which sum is held subject to instructions from the Department.) Mr. Hay to Mr. Leishman. [Telegram.-Paraphrase.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, (Mr. Hay acknowledges the preceding telegram, and extends cordial congratulations to Mr. Leishman on the settlement of the indemnity laims, and directs that the amount be remitted to the Department.) |
