The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-12-28
PROTEST OF AMERICAN CITIZENS.
From Jerusalem Comes Complaint
Against the Practices of Certain
MInions of the Sultan.


NEW YORK, N. Y, Dec. pa letter
to the New York Times postmarked Jeru-
salem, December s, which was delivered
yesterday, contained .he report of meet
ing held on Novem ber 80 by citizens of tie
United States living in Jerusalem to take
action and protest against an order revok-
ing certain privilegesof protection enjoyed
under the prestige of United States citi-
zenship.
The meeting formulated an address and
instructed committee to forward it to
At this moment, when this nation Turkey
is shaking with apprehension of civil discord
and war. and when we scarcely know what to
look for on the coming day, the situation of
the United States citizens resident here is
made extremely perilous by the untimely or
ders issued to our diplomatic officers to with
hold all Government protection from those
whom they may reasonably suspect OF not
having the intention of returning 10 the
United States.
Our Government must certainly know that
independent of such an order the status of
United States citizens in Turkey, although
based upon the rights, privileges and immu
mites granted them by treaty, is already non
sisti potest. We therefore protest against the
application Of this order.
The reasons for the protest are summed
up in five sections. The first says that
the rights granted by treaty TO reside and
own real estate in Jerusalem are not
limited in time, and that those the order
specially affects are the rauitisude Of
poor, aged Hebrews who have settled
there to spend their days in the land of
their forefathers. The second says that t
cannot be shown that the loyalty OF
American citizens has in any degree
diminished by reason of their absence
from their native or adopted country.
Section 3, in full, states:
While residing in the Sultan's dominions
they enjoy The privilege of the extra-terri-
torial Jurisdiction of the United States, are
subject 10 its laws and amenable to its tribunal
alone The refusal OF the Government to grant
protection to those who have never renounced
their allegiance, or to enforce treaty rights on
their behalf is branding them with the mark
of Cain, so that all who meet them may slay
them.
An addition declares that the order is
equivalent to an act of expatriation, a
power never granted by the constitution
nor by any act of Congress to be exercised
by any officers over their fellow-citizens.
Section says that the PRONUNCIATION of
the order at the present time of danger is
in polite and cruel, and has added fuel to
the increasing hostility manifested to-
ward all foreigners, and especially to
Americans. Section reads:
The protection which our consuls have been
able for some years past to grant US has been
more nominal than real. Redress for offenses
committed by natives against United States
citizens sought through our consulate from
the native COURTS in most instances treated
with dlsdain, and those referred to the au-
thorities at Constantinople are consigned to
some place W hence there is no return.
Consequently, for the wrongs from which
many OF us, entirely innocent of any offense,
are suffering, wrongs which not only affect orr
rights but in some cases involve many thou
sands of dollars, remain unredressed. There
fore, until these wrongs are righted and our
just claims enforced, many of US are compelled
to remain, however earnestly we may desire
to return 10 our native land.