Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-09-15
ATTORNEY, A GREEK,
SAYS U. S. SHOULD
PROTEST TO TURKEY
Friend of Consul Tsakonas
Here Declares Abroga-
tion of Treaties Concerns
Safety of Americans.

u eoterios Nicholson of Washington, D.
Greek attorney and student of in.
,,rrational law. who is visiting in Phila-
aenbie. today told how the abrogation
.s The treaties by Turkey was of vital
concern to the United States since by
that action the safety of every foreign
resident in that country was threatened.
including thousands of missionaries and
otbsr Americans who make their per-
panent home there.
Nr. Nicholson was at the Office of
Aristotle Tsakonas, the Creek Consul
here. He is personal friend of Consul
Tsakonas, and on his way to New York
,topped off here TO visit the official
"I do not think" he said, that the
sirnihcance Of the capltulations made
years ago by Turkey and now abrogated
1. generally appreciated. Under them
foreign residents in Turkey have had the
right to be Judged by their own respec-
tive consulatcs exclusively; secondly.
they have possessed special civil privi-
leses such that in all questions OF crimi-
nal procedure and in fact of general de-
portment, they have been liable solely
TO their own governments. Thus, no
Turkish official has had the right to
enter into the dwelling of a foreigner or
arrest one, unless equipped with spe-
cIal permit from the consulate concerned.
Thirdly, the native government was not
allowed to levy professional taxes upon
the foreign residents; and fourthly, it
could not regulate the amount of its
customs duties without the consent of
the foreign powers. In general, the
above privileges may be regarded as con-
stituting extra territorial rights, and It
is chiefly the ones coming under the first
two headings that will affect the status |
Of the Americans living in Turkey
First there Is the legal aspect to be |
considered. AS others have already point |
cd out II Is rather astonishing that treat |
les which have constituted the very con- |
dition of Turkeys existence as State |
are now abrogated without warning and
without negotiation. Such a violation OF
mutual agreement is O. very serious mat
ter ineecd, but Turkey knows that now
the European Powers are hardly pressed
with their own troubles at home and
hopes that they will be unable to resort
|
violation.
Foreign statesmen of the preceding
generations had forced the above con-
oessions from the Turkish Government
because 1t was evident to them that under |
ordinary circumstances the said Govern
ment could not guarantee security and
freedom to their nationals. The country
had simply not reached that stage in the
evolution OF political organization which
would render 1t capable of supervising
the affairs of the citizens of foreign coun-
tries. But with tho advent of the new
regime In 1908 the Young Turks have
been continuously and insistently clamor-
ing for the abrogation of the capltula-
tions, claiming that conditions had
changed since freedom had been declared | !
and Just government had been established.
Nevertheless the Powers refused to con-
sent.
Facts justified their course; the Arme- ,
nlan massacres, troubles in Syria, oppres- ,
sion In Arabia, the insurrection in Al :
bania and the ma!administration of af- t,
fairs In Macedonia, following Immediately d,
lfter the granting of the constitution.
,roved that much had yet to be done in
he line OF political evolution.
In plain words, Turkish law and ad- y
Is not an effective guarantee |
I the safety of foreign lives and inter- n
sts, and has violated treaties that in q
ured that safety. In which case, l
hink, that it is the duty of the United "
tates, at present the greatest neutral c
tate, to declare to Turkey that this 7
'untry realizes its own responsibility G
} Its own cltizers as well as to those OF
le European countries. and that it cam
OF brook the Unwarranted breaking off |
treaties and to bring home to the
ttoman Government that this Govern
ent Is determined to make use of all
aceSsary means TO the end of securing =,
,oper observance OF the treaties by the "
ttoman Government"