No. 637.
Mr. Frelinghuysen to
Mr. Wallace.
Department
of State,
Washington, January 29,
1885.
No. 257.]
Sir: I have received your No. 460, of the 8th
instant, wherein you report that the Sublime Porte now admits the discovery
of certain irregularities in the treatment of the case of Dr. Maurice Pflaum
and that the removal of two officials and the reprimand of another have been
made in consequence thereof. It would seem fitting, in the Department’s
judgment, that this admission of irregular treatment of the case
[Page 832]
should be followed up by an
immediate offer on the part of the Government of the Porle to make due
reparation to a wronged American citizen. But if such offer be not made
within a reasonable time, you are instructed to renew your demand for the
payment of a suitable money indemnity. If this step becomes necessary, you
will press it with all consistent force and effectiveness.
In this connection I herewith transmit a copy of a letter from Mr. Magnus
Pflaum, of Pittsburgh, dated the 8th instant, in regard to hi brothers case.
I have given to Mr. Bayne, of the House of Representatives, who referred the
letter hither, the present status of Dr. Pflaum’s case.
I am, &c.,
[Inclosure in No. 257.]
Mr. Pflaum to Mr.
Bayne.
Pittsburgh, Pa., January 8, 1885.
Dear Sir: I dislike to impose upon your good
nature as well as your time, yet once in awhile I really cannot help
myself. My present request is one of an unusual nature, in which I am
compelled to urge your assistance.
My brother, Dr. Maurice Pflaum, from whom we have heard but little, got
himself in trouble with some Turkish official somewhere near Smyrna,
Asia Minor, was imprisoned, and grossly maltreated, for which a claim
was filed at Constantinople by General Lew. Wallace, our ambassador to
the Porte.
From what I can learn, this matter is now pending nearly a year, and must
be on file in the State Department at Washington; our consul at Smyrna
informed me that my brother suffered both mentally and physically
through the barbarous treatment, and is but a wreck of his former
self.
I also heard that his practice is destroyed and that he is really in
needy circumstances.
He being an American, citizen our Government should certainly take some
active and speedy steps towards obtaining justice for him.
Can you oblige me by, doing something to have this matter attended to? At
all events, let me know the status of the case.
An early answer will place me under special obligations to you.
Yours, &c.,
