Mr. Hirsch to Mr.
Blaine.
Legation of
the United States,
Constantinople, March 29, 1892.
(Received April 11.)
No. 416.]Sir: Referring No. 413 of March 26, instant, I beg
to state that I have received, and herewith inclose, the report of the
United
[Page 551]
States consul at Smyrna, in
the matter of the refusal of the Turkish authorities to permit Rev. Mr.
Bartlett to purchase the property in which he lives.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure 1 in No. 416.]
Mr. Emmet to
Abdurhman Pacha.
Consulate of the United States,
Smyrna, March 14,
1892.
Highness: Owing to some restrictions placed
upon an American citizen lately, in reference to a proposed transfer of
property, I have the honor to respectfully request a copy of No. 127
Dachilieh, 8 Tloul 1307, September 1891, which has reference to the
transfer of real estate, and I am informed has been put in force by the
Sublime Porte.
No notification has reached this consulate bearing upon this matter,
hence my respectful demand for the information of the interested.
I have, etc.,
His Highness Abdurhman Pacha,
Governor-General of the Vilayet of Odin,
Smyrna.
[Inclosure 2 in 416.]
Mr. Bartlett to Mr.
Emmet.
Dear Sir: Allow me to inform you that having
made arrangements for the purchase of a house from James P. McNaughton,
an English subject, residing in Smyrna, the necessary documents having
been prepared and the regular charges for the transfer paid, on the 3d
instant I proceeded, in company with Mr. McNaughton, to the proper
authorities to complete the transfer by the usual public acknowledgement
(takrir), when, as the purchaser of said property, I was required, as an
absolute condition of the transfer, to sign a paper declaring that upon
the premises I was about to purchase I would build nothing in the form
of a church or school (kilisse ya mekteb sheklindé) without a formal
permit from the Government.
Of this condition I had previously no knowledge, having received no
information from the consulate or any other source.
I replied that the question of building was not now before us, but only
that of purchase, and received the answer that the order had reference
to the purchase of real estate, as well as to building upon it. I at
once declined to meet the condition required and the transfer was not
completed. I asked for a copy of the pledge which I was required to
sign, but it was not given.
On the 12th instant, in company with a dragoman of the consulate, I
called again upon the same authorities and asked for and listened to the
reading of the order, in accordance with which the pledge was
required.
Said order was dated September 8, 1307 (A. D. 1891), No. 127, department
of the interior.
Respectfully submitted.
[Inclosure 3 in No. 416.]
Mr. Emmet to Mr.
Albert.
Consulate of the United States,
Smyrna, March 26,
1892.
No. 138.]Sir: In answer to your telegram received
yesterday afternoon I beg to say that I forthwith made application to
Mr. L. Bartlett for a statement of the facts required by you and beg to
submit a copy of same herewith.
[Page 552]
I also send you a copy of my note to the governor-general requesting that
I be furnished with a copy of the order in reference to the transfer of
real estate.
As yet no answer has been made to my note, and when the same was handed
to Armenak Effendi, secretary of foreign relations, by my dragoman,
Armenak Effendi forthwith stated that inasmuch as the order referred to
real estate, consuls of foreign powers could not interfere.
When Mr. Bartlett and the dragoman returned to the consulate, on the 12th
instant, after their visit to the conak, they conveyed the impression to
me that it was stated in the order and so read to them that England,
France, and the United States had acceded to the terms of this order
before the same was transmitted from Constantinople.
If such is the case it will be found in the order on file in the office
of the minister of the interior.
I am, sir, etc.,
Wm. C. Emmet,
United States Consul.
