No. 669.
Mr. Cox to Mr.
Bayard.
[Extract.]
Legation of
the United States,
Constantinople, October 13, 1885.
(Received October 27.)
No. 26.]Sir: I have the honor to transmit to you a copy and
translation of a dispatch received from the new minister for foreign affairs
ad interim, Aarifi Pasha.
It expresses a desire to renew the tariff conferences. As the tariff
discussion is of much importance and has been conducted at the request of
the Department of State by the consul-general, Mr. G. H. Heap (for reasons
which will occur to you), and as it was suspended suddenly, without result
or effect, I do not feel authorized to renew the negotiations without the
special direction of the present administration of our Government. Such
direction should name the delegate also.
It may be inferred that unless we engage in this negotiation we may be at the
mercy of any tariff which the Ottoman Government may impose. * * * If we
negotiate in good faith it is not probable that our country will be at any
disadvantage in respect to importations to which other countries are not
subject.
It will be observed that the dispatch of Aarifi Pasha refers incidentally to
the making of a “commercial treaty.” No “commercial treaty” was in
contemplation or in debate when the tariff discussions were going on; but
would it not be wise to discuss such a treatv along with a new tariff?
* * * * * * *
As the initiative step for all treaties must come from the State Department,
I await its directions, and have so said in my correspondence with the
Ottoman Government, herein inclosed.
* * * * * * *
As Aarifi Pasha has since I began this dispatch been superseded as foreign
minister, and as Said Pasha, recent minister to Berlin (a man of large and
liberal views), has taken that post, of which I am to-day officially
advised, and especially as our own Government has a new Ad-mini tration and,
perhaps, new policies as to economies, &c., I have thought it wise to
await your instructions before touching the question of tariff or a
commercial treaty.
* * * * * * *
I have, &c.,
[Inclosure 1 in No.
26—Translation.]
Aarifi Pasha to Mr.
Cox.
Sublime
Porte, Ministry of Foreign
Affairs,
October 3,
1885.
Mr. Envoy: By its verbal note of the 23d of
February last, the Imperial ministry, in having the honor to inform the
United States legation that the régime to which American commerce of
importation is submitted, is actually identical to the one which
regulates the products and merchandises of the other countries,
requested it to kindly authorize Mr. Heap to place himself in
communication with the delegates of the Imperial Government for the
conclusion of the new tariff and the new treaty of commerce.
[Page 871]
As, however, this request remained without effect, and on the other hand,
the negotiations entered into with the delegates of the other states for
the conclusion of the new tariff are terminated with some of them and
far advanced with others, I beg of your excellency to kindly have Mr.
Heap invited to enter as soon as possible in communication with the
delegates of the Ottoman Grovernment.
Accept, &c.,
[Inclosure 2 in No.
26—Translation.]
Mr. Cox to
Aarifi Pasha.
Legation of the United States,
Constantinople, October 9,
1885.
Highness: Your letter of October 3, 1885,
invoking a renewal of the conferences with the authorities of the United
States had upon the tariff regulations and for a commercial treaty, is
received.
It is perhaps to be regretted that the former consultations were
ineffectual, for since they occurred great changes have taken place in
the administration of the Government I represent. A new administration,
and perhaps with different economic ideas as to trade and commerce, has
appeared. I am myself new to the situation. Therefore, I have consulted
my Government before beginning any new conference. I have written to
Washington for instructions (as I am not exactly sure that the
instructions to my predecessor and the appointment of Mr. Heap as
delegate will be repeated), so as to direct my own action. I will omifc
no reasonable exertion to make practical response to your suggestion.
Trade is sensitive and business depends on the promptness as well as on
the wisdom of negotiations.
May I say to you, highness, that I fail to observe in former conferences
any discussion as to a commercial treaty, but no such treaty now exists
between the Ottoman and United States Governments, and there should be
one. I have asked for instructions as to that point also.
Accept, &c.,
