Mr. Hay to Ali Ferrouh Bey.
Washington, October 11, 1898.
Sir: I am informed by the Rev. S. L. Beiler, pastor of the Cavalry Methodist Episcopal Church of New York City, that on yesterday he presented to the Turkish consul in the city of New York the passport issued to him by this Department on the 8th instant, and requested its vise” for use in visiting Palestine, and that the consul refused to vise it, saying that “admission to Palestine is prohibited.”
This Department is without any advice either from your legation or from the United States representative in Constantinople that there is any prohibition of any kind against the resort of American citizens to Palestine, except in the case of Hebrew emigrants going thither in bodies for the purpose of settlement there.
The Rev. Mr. Beiler is not resorting to Palestine as an emigrant; he is proceeding thither, as thousands of Americans go every year, to visit that historical land. It seems incredible that the consul can have acted under any instructions of his Government in refusing a visé to Mr. Beiler; and even had he refused the visé under some instruction of which this Government is ignorant, it would become my duty to remonstrate against such an uncalled for attempt to restrict the liberty of travel of American citizens in any part of the Ottoman dominions.
As Mr. Beiler sails on the steamer St Louis to-morrow (Wednesday), I have the honor to ask that you kindly telegraph the consul, stating that Mr. Beiler is the pastor of one of the best known Christian churches in the city of New York; that he is going to Palestine for legitimate purposes of travel, and that he is entitled to have his passport viséed accordingly.
[Page 1092]I shall be glad if you will advise me of your action at as early an hour as possible to-day, in order that I may telegraph to Mr. Beiler.
Accept, etc.,