Mr. Straus to Mr.
Hay.
Legation of the United States,
Constantinople, October 26,
1898.
No. 11.]
Sir: Referring to my dispatch No. 6, of October
22, respecting the delays in granting teskeres and irades to foreigners
who wish to travel to the interior of Asia Minor, I have the honor to
report:
Pending the visit of the German Emperor all business with the Porte was
at a standstill. He left on Saturday last, the 22d instant, and I took
up the matter the following day and sent the attached note to Tahsin
Bey, the first secretary of the Sultan. I received a verbal reply
through our dragoman that His Majesty had decided, for the purpose of
simplifying matters, to refer the entire subject of teskeres to the
council of ministers, and that the persons referred to would receive
their teskeres on Monday next, the 31st instant.
In the meantime I was informed by the British embassy that its custom has
been to ask for teskeres, and if not granted within a day or two—and, as
a rule, they are not granted—to let the persons go forward without them,
and so advise the Porte and at the same time advise their British
consular agents en route. The ambassador informed me he had made
application for a teskere the same time we did for Miss Ida E. Hall, who
wishes to accompany our American party, and up to this writing the
teskere has not been obtained. I refer to this so that you may know
these obstacles are not exceptional toward our citizens. The consul
general informs me he has received information from the teskere bureau
that all applications for teskeres are referred to the Palace, and that
the Italian consul has recently met with the same disposition as to his
requests.
The missionaries referred to have decided to leave for their destination
without teskeres, as I am advised by the copy letter of October 25 from
Rev. C. F. Gates; our cavass will put them on board. As a precautionary
measure, I have sent a note to the minister for foreign affairs, of
which a copy is attached, which gives the names of the persons referred
to and their destination. This note follows my conference with the
minister of foreign affairs, held yesterday, when I informed him the
Americans had decided they would delay no longer. I shall also telegraph
our consular agents at Samsoun and Trebizond to give every assistance,
and in case of obstacles being interposed to advise the legation.
I am in hopes my action in this matter will bring about a solution by the
council of ministers, so these petty annoyances under this head will be
removed.
I trust the action I have taken will meet your approval.
I have, etc.,
[Page 1098]
[Inclosure to No. 1 in No.
11.]
United States Legation,
Constantinople, October 25, 1898.
No. 9.]
His Excellency Tahsin
Bey,
First Secretary of O. I. M. The
Sultan.
Sir: Twenty-four days ago eight
American-born citizens, returning from their vacation to their homes
at Harpoot and Erzerum, have been delayed here all this time because
their teskeres have been withheld.
I have come here to smooth the relations of our countries. These
obstructions, which are contrary to our treaties, cause irritation
in America, where these persons have many influential friends.
After sending the dragoman of this legation repeatedly to the Porte
and the Palace, he is now informed that His Majesty further
postponed this request. I have refrained from telegraphing to my
Government to avoid raising a disagreeable issue, especially as the
people in my country are very much excited on account of the denial
of their rights in Turkey.
Unless these teskeres are issued to-day, it will become my duty to
ask telegraphic instructions from my Government.
Your excellency will oblige me by bringing this to His Imperial
Majesty’s attention at once, so that Mr. Garliulo can bring back the
teskeres.
Receive, Excellency, etc., etc.,
[Inclosure to No. 2 in No.
11.]
Dr. C. F. Gates
to Mr. Straus.
Bible House, October 25, 1898.
Hon. O. S. Straus.
Dear Sir: I find our steamer leaves at 4
p.m. to morrow, the steamer Circassie of the
Paquet Line. Will you kindly see that a cavass is on hand by 3
o’clock to see that we are put on board, and send necessary
instructions to Samsoun.
May I also suggest that when we are fairly started you should inform
the Porte to that effect and demand that instructions be sent all
along our route that we be not molested.
Thanking you for all your kindness and regretting the trouble I have
unwillingly caused you,
I remain, yours, truly,
[Inclosure 3 in No. 11.]
Mr. Straus to
Tewfik Pasha.
United States Legation, October 26, 1898.
No. 5.]
His Excellency Tewfik
Pasha,
Minister for Foreign
Affairs.
Sir: Following my conference with your
excellency yesterday, I beg to inform you that under the rights
guaranteed by treaties the Americans, who have been delayed for more
than three weeks waiting in vain for their teskeres to return to
their homes and families at Erzerum and Harpoot, leave to-day for
their destination. In the interest of good relations, your
excellency is requested to send telegraphic instructions
[Page 1099]
to the authorities at
Samsoun and Trebizond and all along the route to their destination
to facilitate the journey of the persons named below.
I beg to advise your excellency in advance it will cause serious
issue between our two Governments and that my Government will hold
your Government to the fullest responsibility should any obstacles
be placed in their way.
The names and destinations of the persons referred to are: Miss Laura
Ellsworth, Miss Theresa Huntington, Mrs. Brown and her son Harold
Brown, and Mrs. Barnum with her son, who go to Harpoot, accompanied
by Mr. Gates and his family, who reside in Harpoot, and that the
ladies, Miss Euth Bushnell, Miss Agnes Lord, and Mrs. Staple-ton go
to Erzerum.
Hoping this will have your excellency’s prompt attention, receive,
excellency, the assurance of my high consideration.
