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I left Alexandretta and went to my home, Deurt-Yole, about 18 miles from here. While trying to cut my business relations with my brothers, I was called by the governor of the State of Adana to the State capital, the city of Adana. I went to Adana, and after strict cross-examinations I was asked to furnish bond or go to prison. I furnished bond and was left free under close watch with the condition that I should remain in Adana until I was notified otherwise. I remained in Adana six weeks conditionally, then was cast into the prison of the capital. My imprisonment was six months. During all this period I wished to beg the protection of my adopted and much-loved country, but considering the possible national bitter feeling that might be caused between the two nations, I hesitated to do so; and as there is an Imperial order according to which any person living in Turkey could have the privilege of leaving Turkey under condition of not returning any more, I thought of taking advantage of the same order in the absence of other means.

Now I am in perfect readiness to leave this country for the United States (Boston), where I have received my education, and where I have made my home, practicing medicine, since 1894.

I respectfully present to you a copy of my naturalization papera inclosed herein. Awaiting your advice, etc.,

[Inclosure 2.]

A. H. KLUDJIAN.

Mr. Dickinson to Mr. Leishman.

UNITED STATES CONSULATE-GENERAL,
Constantinople, January 4, 1902.

SIR: I beg to acknowledge the legation's No. 113 of November 20, 1901, covering a letter from Dr. A. H. Kludjian written from Alexandretta, and asking me to investigate the matter.

I would refer you to Consul Davis's No. 13 to the legation, of August 11, 1900, in which he stated that in order to gain admission to this country he (Kludjian) had to renounce his citizenship, but as it appeared from his letter to the legation, which I return herewith, that he was prepared and anxious to leave this country for the United States, in referring the matter to Consul Davis I asked him to have Dr. Kludjian make an application for a passport in proper form, which I would submit to the legation and ask that he be granted a passport.

I now beg to inclose his passport application a in duplicate, together with a certificate of citizenship, and to enable him to leave this country for his adopted home I would request you to grant him the necessary passport.

I am, etc.,

Mr. Hay to Mr. Leishman,

CHAS. M. DICKINSON.

No. 108.]

DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, February 10, 1902.

SIR: I have to acknowledge the receipt of your dispatch No. 124 of the 9th ultimo, reporting that you have refused to grant Assadur H. Kludjian, a former Turkish subject, a passport, the facts of the case, as shown by the inclosures to your dispatch, * * * being as

follows:

Kludjian came to this country in 1889, was naturalized in 1895, and granted a passport by this Government May 17, 1900. He went back to Turkey, presented evidence of his American citizenship at the port of Alexandretta, and was refused permission to enter the country because he was an American citizen. He declares that he sent for the American consul, who was away, and that the dragoman of the consulate told him that in order to enter Turkey he must give up his pass

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port and become a Turkish subject. He was ordered back to the steamer on which he had arrived. Under these circumstances he gave up his passport and naturalization certificate and swore allegiance to Turkey. He went about his business, and some six weeks later was cast into prison. Before this he told the consul at Alexandretta that he had been compelled to give up his passport and naturalization certificate, but that he was at heart a good American. He was imprisoned for six months, during which time he did not call upon the agents of this Government for protection, because, so he says, of "the possible national bitter feeling that might cause between the two nations."

It is true that Turkey refuses to recognize the American citizenship of a former Turk who secures naturalization in the United States without Turkish authority; and that when this authority is given it is with the stipulation that the person shall not return to Turkey. Therefore, if a naturalized American citizen of Turkish origin returns to Turkey he may expect arrest and imprisonment or expulsion. The Department's notice stating these facts, now sent to every former subject of Turkey who receives a passport, was not yet, however, issued when the passport was granted in this case, and Dr. Kludjian may have been ignorant of the danger he was incurring by returning to Turkey. It is also true that this Government insists that the laws of Turkey on the subject are contrary to enlightened international policy, are unjust and oppressive; and that this Government protects, so far as it can, Americans, formerly of Turkish allegiance, who gain admission to Turkey. A right to American protection and a renunciation of American citizenship are incompatible conditions, and Dr. Kludjian's claim to such protection can rest only upon the ground that his renunciation of American citizenship was brought about by duress under threats, and is therefore void.

If the dragoman advised Kludjian to renounce his American citizenship, his acting on that advice does not make his renunciation void; actual duress must be shown. There is nothing to show that he was compelled to abjure his American nationality. He did it for his own convenience.

Your action in refusing him a passport is therefore approved by the Department.

I am, sir, etc.,

JOHN HAY.

EXCHANGE OF COMPLIMENTS BETWEEN THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE SULTAN OF TURKEY ON THE RECURRENCE OF THE BAIRAM.

Mr. Leishman to Mr. Hay.

[Telegram.-Paraphrase.]

LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES,
Pera, March 20, 1902.

(Mr. Leishman states that during a private audience following the Kurban Bairam ceremony on the morning of March 20, His Imperial Majesty the Sultan requested that his compliments and feelings of friendship be conveyed to the President of the United States.)

FR 1902, PT 1- -65

President Roosevelt to the Sultan of Turkey.

[Telegram.]

WHITE HOUSE, Washington, March 24, 1902.

I tender Your Majesty cordial felicitations on the recurrence of

Bairam.

THEODORE ROOSEVELT.

The Sultan of Turkey to President Roosevelt.

[Telegram.-Translation.]

YILDIZ, March 25, 1902.

Very much touched by the felicitations you have been so good as to express to me on the occasion of the Bairam. I return especial thanks. ABDUL HAMID.

Mr. Leishman to Mr. Hay.

No. 158.]

LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES,
Constantinople, March 25, 1902.

SIR: As advised by cable to-day, His Imperial Majesty was exceedingly gratified at the courtesy of the President and sent a special message expressing great pleasure at receiving the President's congratulatory telegram, and mentioned the fact of its being the first message of that character that he had ever received from the head of our Government. I think I am fully warranted in saying that His Majesty was delighted, and that the exchange of courtesies will produce a good effect and have a decided tendency to facilitate business and place us more on the same footing as other great powers, as it can not be denied that matters progress and are frequently settled in a country like this largely by royal favor.

I have, etc.,

JOHN G. A. LEISHMAN.

RESTRICTIONS ON AMERICAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANIES IN

No. 143.]

TURKEY.

Mr. Hay to Mr. Leishman.

DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, April 25, 1902. SIR: I inclose herewith for your information an extract from a letter dated Constantinople, March 24, 1902, from Messrs. J. C. Whittall & Co., the managers for Turkey for the New York Life Insurance Company, to Mr. Joseph J. Hearns, the company's superintendent of agencies, Paris, in relation to the difficulties experienced by the company during the past two years in carrying on its business in the provinces of Turkey, owing to the obstruction and prohibition of the Turkish Government.

Messrs. Whittall & Co.'s letter is one of the inclosures to a letter dated the 29th ultimo from Mr. Hearns to Mr. William E. Ingersoll, the company's general manager for Europe, which was left at the Department on the 14th instant by Mr. John A. McCall, president of the company.

I also inclose a copy of a letter from Mr. Ingersoll to the Department, dated the 17th instant, with four inclosures on the same subject. The Department would like to receive a report from you upon the subject.

If you think it opportune to do so, you will press upon the Ottoman Government the granting of larger privileges to American insurance companies.

I am, etc.,

JOHN HAY.

[Inclosure 1.]

Messrs. Whittall & Co. to Mr. Hearns.

CONSTANTINOPLE, March 24, 1902.

DEAR SIR: You may not be quite au courant of the difficulties which we have experienced during the past two years in carrying on our business in the provinces of Turkey owing to the obstruction and prohibition of the Turkish Government, but Mr. Ingersoll is fully aware of them, and he has done much to assist us; but matters have now reached a stage where vigorous action on the part of the American Government is necessary if the New York Life is to continue to work in Turkey. According to very old conventions between the Turkish Government and the civilized powers, foreign companies or individuals are to be allowed to transact business in the Turkish Empire with absolute freedom. Until recently we were able to send our canvassers all over Turkey, and our agents in all the provincial towns were able to work unmolested, but about a couple of years ago the Turkish Government, acting on the instigation of the Ottoman Insurance Company to promote their own interest, issued a circular to all the provincial governors to the effect that no insurance agent who was not provided with a permit from the Ottoman Government should be allowed to carry on insurance business, and the circular warns the public not to place any faith or confidence in any agent not possessing a certificate to the effect that the company he represents is authorized by Government license to transact business in Turkey. This circular naturally proved very mischievous, and the difficulties and obstruction our agents encountered were in proportion to the spirit or zeal in which the different governors interpreted their instructions; * * * and in some towns the governors were indifferent; but in many places they absolutely refused to allow our agents to work, and in some instances seized all the company's papers, etc. At the outset we sought the intervention and protection of the United States minister, and we advised Mr. Ingersoll, and for the last two years we have been constantly in communication with the American legation and also directly with the Ottoman Government. We contend that according to the "capitulations" the Turkish Government has no right to interfere in any way with the operations of the New York Life Insurance Company; nevertheless, we are prepared to take out a license, and an application in due form was made. The Government, however, will not withdraw its circulars nor will it grant us the concession we have applied for, and so far the representations of the legation have been unproductive of any benefit whatever.

We have during this period done some business in the provinces, but always under difficulties; but another circular appears to have been issued quite recently by the Government confirming their previous instructions, and as a result all our provincial agencies are now at a standstill.

Moreover, the Turkish authorities are now refusing to issue passports to our trayeling agents, so they are prevented from traveling, and our operations are consequently being further and further restricted and are now confined to the capital and principal seaport towns. The provinces where much business is to be done are practically closed to us, and instead of doing 18,000,000 francs this year we shall be extremely fortunate if we succeed in producing half that amount.

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We are, etc.,

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J. W. WHITTALL & Co.

[Inclosure 2.]

Mr. Ingersoll to Mr. Hill.

NEW YORK LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY,
New York, April 17, 1902.

DEAR SIR: Referring to the kind reception you accorded to our esteemed president, Mr. McCall, and myself on Monday last, and the conversation we had in regard to the annoyances the agents of our company are experiencing in Turkey in consequence of unjust and uncalled-for instructions being issued by the Turkish Government to the governors of the different provinces, since my return to New York I have received additional correspondence in regard to this matter, which I think will be of some interest to you and which I would like to join to the papers we left with you. I inclose the same herewith.

I take this occasion to again thank you for the interest you propose to take in this matter, and I hope that our minister in Constantinople will receive such instructions as will have the desired effect on the Turkish officials.

I am, etc.,

W. E. INGERSOLL,

General Manager for Europe and Resident Executive.

[Subinclosure 1.]

Messrs. Whittall & Co. to Mr. Hearns, superintendent of agencies, Paris.

CONSTANTINOPLE, April 1, 1902.

SIR: With reference to our letter of the 24th ultimo respecting the obstruction of the Turkish Government, we have now to hand you copies of letters that have been exchanged with the United States minister in this matter.

Trusting the question is engaging your most earnest attention,
We are, etc.,

J. W. WHITTALL & Co.

P. S.-This prohibition of the Government has reduced our proportion for March to a half million francs, whereas it should have been a million and a half. It is simply disastrous.

[Subinclosure 2.]

Messrs. Whittall & Co. to Mr. Leishman.

CONSTANTINOPLE, March 25, 1902. EXCELLENCY: By our several requests presented to this honorable legation we have drawn its attention to the difficulties and vexations of which the representatives of the New York Life Insurance Company are the object on the part of the authorities of the Ottoman provinces. We have furthermore not failed to keep it posted constantly in regard to the steps taken by us at the competent departments, and particularly in regard to the deposit by us at the ministry of commerce and public works of the documents exacted by the law on foreign limited-liability companies, promulgated in 1303 (1887).

The honorable legation has been good enough to address the Ottoman ministry of foreign affairs under date of November 6, 1901, and January 16, 1902. The first of these notes, after having passed through various administrative channels, was at last referred to the council of the ministry of commerce and public works, where it remains without effect since the 14th of January last, and as to the second, it has been decreed to the consulting bureau of the ministry of foreign affairs under date of the 20th of the same month and has not had a better fate than the preceding.

Meanwhile, the situation is becoming worse from day to day, and we receive daily from our agents in the provinces louder and louder complaints, and we hasten to transmit to you herewith two copies of those received from our agents in Sivas, Amasia, and Yuzgat. Your excellency will see from their contents that the authorities * no longer content themselves with publications putting

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