Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, Transmitted to Congress, With the Annual Message of the President, December 4, 1883

No. 569.
Mr. Frelinghuysen to Mr. Wallace.

Department of State,
Washington, August 31, 1883.

No. 123.]

Sir: Your dispatch No. 258, of the 31st ultimo, relative to the petroleum concession, and in which you report that the Government of Turkey declines responsibility for dues paid thereunder, has been received and bad attentive consideration.

As the alleged non-liability of Turkey for the dues paid under the concession admittedly rests on the right claimed by the Porte to make the concession itself, and as this Government denies the rightfulness of the concession in question, the United States cannot admit Turkey’s eon-liability to refund the dues. Accordingly all statements of dues paid should be presented by you pro forma and refund asked.

I am, &c.,

FRED’K T. FRELINGHUYSEN.