The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-10-08
TURKEY CLASHES
WITH AMERICA
Sultan in Constant Dispute with
United States, Chiefly Over
Citizenship.
Journal snecial Service.

: 4
Constantinoplc, Oct. THE sultan
appears to be constantly and contin-
uaily in trouble with the United States.
The latest dispute grows out Of ques-
lions concerning the use OF passports.
Immediately after the attempt on the
life of the sultan now nearly three.
months ago, a special commission was
formed at Yildiz to investigate all the
circumstances connected with it, and
to have been originated by .Armenians
snd other revolutionary committees.
Hundreds of innocent men were ar
rested and flung into prison, in the hope
Of discovering the guilty, and the life
Of Turkish subjects in Constantinople
and neighborhood was made a greater
burden than ever. And not only OF
Turkish subjects; for the commission
and its agents showed contempt Tor
the capitulatoryjri rights of foreign sub
.iects, which was bound sooner or later
puoWers.
Two Questions at Issue.
There are two questions at issue:
First, what is the measure OF protec-
ton which the United States legation
zens accused of criminal offences. Sec
ond, have Ottoman subjects who have
been naturalized in America the right
| to claim American citizenship when
they return to Turkey. .4Is -. -
The porte claims that American cit
liens only possess the same rights as
other oreigners-namely, that except
in urgent cases they should not be ar
rested without the cooperation of their
consul. and that at their trial they
should be assisted by representative
| Of their consulate.
The Washington government claims
and has always claimed that it's treaty
of 1880 removes American citizens alto
| gether from the jurisdiction of the ma
tive court and gives them the right to
be arrested, tried and punished only by
their own national representatives.
| j. Diplomats with Turks.
Altho the text of the treaty seems
| conclusive in favor Of the Americans
| it is only fair to say that diplomatic
imous on the side Of the Turks: Of
! course if American citizens really 40
possess these extensive rights, the prln,
cciple Of che most favored nation will
prevent their being withheld from other
foreigners, and the ambassador OF one
Of the great powers has already IN IN,
! formed the grand vizier that he will
promptly claim for his nationality any
privileges which are conceded to the
Americans. -.
On the second question the porte
points to the Turkish law Of 1869 which
is recognized by all of the leading pow
ers and by which Ottoman subjects are
! forbidden to-become naturalized sub
iects Of any other government without
the written consent of the porte and
any such naturalization is declared null
and void. ,~s, , %s.rysst.,.
" What Americans Claim.
The Americans, on the other hand, re-
l fuse to admit that any law Of a foreign
country can prevent them from admit
ting whom they wish to become citi.
zens of their commonwealth, and claim
also the right and the duty to protect
all Of their citizens, wherever they may
be, without distinction Of origin. ~.
!, On this point too it is. only fair tc
say, that local diplomatic, opinion is
tention, altho there are undoubtedly
two sides to the argument. On the one
hand it is felt that it would be ar
abuse if Armenians, young Turks, OF
1 other, refugees were able to 50 assume
American nationality and return tx
government with the advantages ant
privileges of foreign residence
America Unlike Others. Il
On the other hand it must be ad
mitted that the United States occupies
a different position from the other pow
ers, which undoubtedly profoundly af
feet the attitude Of the American gov
eminent toward these questions. TIL
American republic is largely built VI
by immigrants, often refugees VIII
could never have obtained the con
sent of their government to becom
: American citizens. Even at the pres
: ent day. millions Of Americans are nat
l uralized citizens and it appears nat
i ural that the government would no
8 wish to offend them by even seemin
Q not to give them the same protectio
}. as native born Americans. Moreove1
! as America has no political interests i
| Turkey, Washington has not the sam
t inducement as other capitols to win
t at infractions of treaty rights. :