New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-04-29
FOREIGN PoSToFFIcEs IN TURKEY.
EFFORTS OF THE sULrAN's GOVERNMENT TO
HAVE THEM ABOLISHED.

HAVE THEM ABOLISHED.
The Turkish Government has recently reopened
the campaign often vainly made by 1t for the
suppression of the special postoffces attached 10
the official residences of the foreign Ambassadors
and Consu-Generals for the use of their COM
patriots. because of the unreliabity and inef
hciency OF the Ottoman postal service. The Porte
announces. indeed. is intention to close, even by
force, the foreign postoffces. commission has
been appointed to devise the improvements TO be
introduced in the native postal service. and I'M
perial trade decree has ordered the commits
sioners to hasten in their work. As their
report shall be received and approved by the Sultan
the foreign postoices will have TO shut their doors,
willingly or unwillngly-
This Is not the first time that such threats have
been made but the Porte has never dared to
cute them. though the suppression of the foreign
postoffices the only means to prevent the intro
duction in the empire of newspapers published
abroad by the party OF eyiled reformers. On an
other hand private correspondence would be at the
discretion OF the Black Cabinet" secret bu-
reau. which exists in Turkey in most of the
governments Of Continental Europe. and whose
mission open suspected letters.
The treaty of Kainardt in 1TT4 conferred the
Imperial Government of Austria the right TO have
a special service Of postal couriers from CONSTANT
nople the frontier for the correspondence OF the
Embassy. Austrian merchants were allowed by
their Government make of the same couriers
without any protest on the part OF Turkey. This
IS the origin OF what is called the foreign post
offices. for the AustrianS Installed at CONSTANT
nople first postoffce working regularly and re-
ceivng and dispatchng all private correspondence.
Postal bureaus opened later on at STEAMBOAT
by almost all foreign Powers which were placed
by treaties with Turkey the footing OF the
most favored nation clause. and which were en-
titled therefore have their own postofflce like
Austria. The Portes first protest against that ex-
tension of the treaty of KainardU occurred at the
time OF the Crimean War. but the was not
pressed. because the Ottoman postal service was
hardly in existence. and the Powers could not de-
Gently be invited to Il instead OF their own
The Turkish authorities then created a special ser
vice. which they called "poste internationale.' and
they admitted 10 the Postal Convention at
Berne. They Immediately took advantage of this
and pretended that the existence OF the special for
eign postoilces In Turkey anomaly and
fragrant violation OF International law. They
simply forgot that the "capitulations'' system
which has prevailed for centuries and by which
Turkey placed herself voluntarily under kind OF
submission 10 the Powers. imposed exceptional
situation on the Ottoman Empire. The Berne Con-
vention In giving to the Porte the usual advantages
OF It's postal affairs could annIhilate the
"capitula tons. and the Ottoman delegate to the
Berne Congress carefully refrained from propos-
ing the adoption Of special article relative TO the
foreign postoftces in Turkey.