New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-10-19
WITHOUT A COUNTRY
Case of american Tar UhO Fore
S7cears allegiance to Tao Nations.
From The Tribune Bureau ]

Washington, oct. ls-The unfortunate experience
Of naturalized American who. after twenty years
residence i'm this country. during which he served
ton years with cr,dit I'm the American navy. re-
turned his native land and was seized by the
Turkish officials has been brought 10 the atteu-
ZION Of The Tribune by the following letter;
To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Of your esteemed paper few lines TO enIghten
leans ana American interests arr rsP' - -
abroad have made the acqu9 3 [ich IN fh'S
twenty wears in America and who has served in
am nav fnr ten v.ars and left with a very good
conduct according 70 the certificate given 10 him
signed BY Nlr Alexander sharp This man has
ssrytI an uess ISM Si'e mat, mat ON Noveib@r 4
1905 lie has taken part in TIE battle 81 San Juan
he severely wounded on December 81; 1887
home he has come over TO Turkey 20 visit his old
Eeuitors, with the intention 10 return again 20
was Immediately arrested and thrown into jail for
six long dTeary months; SIMPLY Pef1ySt me Dean f me
leased until his last dollar was absorbed and until
eIer HIS - tbtrsty turkish officials
H. has appealed again and again 10 the Ameri-
Ambassador for protection. but IN vain. L4e
GraSecutorS and here he lies to this date unable
even To leave this country. because ms It'SSpUt{
the authorities will not let him move path out
1t would have been excuse to abandon him II
he aGitator or a troublesome man. put ne
man. and he attracts the love and sympathy rs
OF who has served ten long years in Uncle
Sans navy and who came very near toSl'S ms
supreme moment by the representative of that very
same nation he has adopted as his mother c% rune
American when he hears IL?
YOUR p' Esteemed paper but not before You have
investigated and found what / am wrtine 70 you
Is true and corusct | interested myself IN TINS
mans behalf because have been satisfied FROM
I am an American citizen myself. and I consider
Il my duty 10 report such matters To our press 50
Of our representative in tins part OF the world
what yoT think proper in this case for the prestige
and honor Of our government and the sake or
sequences of this poor diplomacy. J remain very
Tvcltv police ofncer Of San Francisco and United
States immigration Service interpreter and in
spector.
The Navy Deuartment confirms all of the state
nents contained in the above letter in so far as IL
relates 70 Muchelrs service adding that he
with Admiral Evans in the battle of Santiago,
wounded as stated and that he given GER
tfcatc testifylrg To his Credtable service and
honorable discharge
At the Department of State II is explained that
when "A passport was issued to Mitchell he
warned that the Turkish law forbade the return
Of n Turkish citizen who had become naturalized
citizen cf foreign country without the consent
of the Turkish officials II is further stated that
he failed before setting out for Turkey. to have
his passport viseed by the Turkish Consul General
and that his arrival off the shores of Turkey he
refused admission except on condition that he
sign statement which. after recting the cirCum-
stances. read; - hereby renounce my American
citizenship and declare my intention revert to
my former allegiance To the sultan
This statement Mitchell signed and thereby for
feitcd all right protection by the American au-
thorities-n fact placed himself in a position
where they were poweress to protect him. The De-
partment OF State has knowledge of his imme-
date arrest and Incarceration. but. inasmuch as
all his other statements have been found be ac-
curate, this is probably true. 1t is regarded as
probable that Mitchell did not appreciate the gray
ity of his act in renOuncing his American citizen
ship but. the other hand. it Is submitted that
inasmuch as this voluntary act on his part
quite as much that by which he foreswore al