Mr. Terrell to Mr.
Olney.
Legation of the United States,
Constantinople, August 5, 1896.
(Received Aug. 20.)
No. 939.]Sir: I have the honor to call your attention to
the inclosed note just received from Mr. Poche (consular agent at
Aleppo), which was in response to an inquiry made by Mr. Riddle when
acting as chargé d’affaires, and which shows the imprisonment at Aleppo
of certain naturalized citizens of the United States. Yesterday (August
4) I called upon both the Grand Vizier and the foreign minister, and in
person presented my written demand for their release, a copy of which is
inclosed.
I verbally notified the Porte that I expected a suspension of proceedings
against Serkis Havonassian, Hagob Jamogodjian, and Mardiros Simonian,
who claimed American citizenship, but possessed no evidence thereof.
The interview resulted in an assurance that the matter will be brought at
once, without the usual delay, to the attention of the Sultan, and my
demand for compliance with the surrender of the men in accordance with
the modus vivendi agreed upon by him personally with me.
That modus vivendi limits the right to expel undesirable persons to those
who have been naturalized since 1869 without the Sultan’s consent and
prohibits unnecessary imprisonment.
Unless notified before August 8 that the men will be delivered I will
renew pressure at the Porte and, if necessary, at the palace.
I have, etc.,
[Page 915]
[Inclosure 1 in No.
939.—Translation.]
Mr. Poche to
Mr. Riddle.
Mr. Chargé d’Affaires: On receipt of your
telegram of the 6th instant, as follows—
Visit nine Americans in prison, examine their right to
American protection, and send report.
Riddle—
I hastened to place myself in communication with the
vali, and yesterday, 9th instant, I proceeded to an investigation in
the presence of the procureur général, the dragoman of the vali, and
the prisoners in question. From an examination of the papers seized
by the local authorities it appears that among them are the five
following certificates of naturalization: (1) Boghos Chertigian, (2)
Nigoghos Vanian, both dated Boston, January 10, 1895; (3) Cenekerian
Boujuklian, dated Boston, June 1, 1895; (4) Ephrem Gajarian, dated
Boston, January 1, 1895; (5) Setrag Arakelian, dated Boston, June 1,
1895. In addition to their naturalization certificates the above
named five persons have passports. (6) Serkis Balian, who has shown
me his naturalization certificate, declares that he has lost his
passport.
The three other persons—Serkis der Havannessian,Hagob Jamgodjian, and
Mardiros Simonian—allege that they have lost their certificates and
passports, but furnish the following information in order that their
claim to American citizenship may be investigated:
The first of these, Serkis der Havannessian, says that his passport
and certificate were delivered to him in Boston, January 10, 1895.
The second, Hagob Jamgodjian (a native of Eghin, Turkey), claims
that his certificate and passport were given him January 10, in
Boston city post-office. The third, Mardiros Simonian, was
naturalized in Providence, R. I., and formerly had a passport dated
January 17, 1895, No. 17244.
Such, Mr. Chargé d’Affaires, is the information I have in regard to
the nationality of these prisoners.
In the course of my conversation with his excellency Raif Pasha, I
found out that he had been instructed to begin the trial of these
persons and to judge them, no matter what their nationality might
be. The vali added that he did not at all approve of the
expulsion—pure and simple—of these individuals, as that would be a
repetition of the mistake committed in the case of the leaders of
the Zeitoun revolt. Raif Pasha’s idea seems to be to punish these
persons, who he says have come to stir up disturbances and to excite
the subjects of the Sultan to revolt.
Inclosed with this I have the honor to transmit to you the original
of the request addressed to me by Boghos Chertigian, who in signing
used his pseudonym, Avedis Vartanian.
As you well imagine, the certificates and other papers mentioned
above remain in the hands of the procureur général, and will not be
delivered to this consular office until orders are sent from the
central authority.
Awaiting your instructions, I have, etc.,
[Page 916]
[Inclosure 2 in No.
939.]
Mr. Terrell to
Tevfik Pasha.
Legation of the United States,
Constantinople, August 4, 1896.
No. 132.]Sir: I have learned with astonishment that
six naturalized American citizens have for several weeks been
confined in prison at Aleppo on a charge of disloyalty to the
Imperial Government. Their names are Boghos Ohertigian, Nigoghos
Vanian, Cenekerian Boujukliau, Ephrem Gajarian, Setrag Arakelian,
and Serkis Balian. All except the last named have American
passports.
After the imprisonment in that town last year, and his delivery to me
after much delay, of Malcoun Guedjian, it is to be regretted that
the local authorities have again disregarded my agreement with His
Imperial Majesty, which requires that such men be delivered to me or
to a consular officer.
I now demand their immediate surrender to me here, or to the consular
agent at Alexandretta, as may be preferred by your excellency.
Receive, excellency, etc.,
