Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-09-12
j, s. MAY Join IN
PROTEST TO PORTE
Likely to Unite With Other
Powers Against Abrogation
of the CapituIations.
WILL AWAIT INITIATIVE
OF EUROPEAN COUNTRIES
Turkey to Be Mistress in Her Own
House." Is Explanation by
Ottoman Ambassador.

ottoman AMBASSADOR.
The United States probably will join
the protest Of the powers against Tur-
keys abrogation Of the captulations
which granted foreigners extraterritortal
| rights and otherwise restricted the SOW
ereignty of the Ottoman empire.
This was predicted today by admins
tration officials, although definite course
of action has not finally been decided
upon by President Wilson and Secretary
Bryan.
The disposition Of the Washington gov
eminent was to await the initiative OF
the European powers. following the ira
ditional policy of the United States In
that regard.
The report that the foreign diplomatists
in Constantinople had protested to the
porte was received with interest by OIL
Gals.
Ambassador Morganthau cabled the
State Department today that the Euro
pean powers had protested against tne
abrogation. but that as he was wl1nou
instructions he did not join In the action:
officials here learned that the protest
was a mild one. and some observers IN
Constant:nople looked upon 1t as haroiy
strong enough to make any impression
on the porte.
Why q. S. Might Protest.
The view that the American govern
ment would protest against the abroga-
ton of extraterritorial rights was ad-
vanced by officials. who said the reasons
would be twofold:
First, Americans had invested consider
able sums in Turkey because of the spe-
cial privileges and protection afforded
them under the capitulations.
Second. because the removal of the ex-
traterritorial rights might lessen the per-
sonal security of American missionaries.
At the Turkish embassy 1t was learned
that the porte proposes to substitute for
the present ad valorem duties on imports
specific duties. which will be higher. This
! would result in an additional burden upon
importers, most of whom are said to be
Brs fish. On the other hand, lenders of
money to the Turkish government have a
lien upon the Turkish customs for their
loans. The principal lenders are said to
be French.
Not to Terminate Treaties.
The ambassador pointed out that the
effect Of the action was not to termi-
nate the treaties of 1880 and 1852 be-
tween the United States and Turkey,
but to remove those extraterritorial
rights which the American government
has enjoyed under a most favored ma
ton clause.
Discussing informally questions aris-
ing out Of the abrogation of the con-
ventions, the Turkish ambassador
later suggested that an interesting
situation might arise with reference
to Egypt. Here. he thought. Great
Britain probably would welcome the
removal of the capitulation, as it left
British control of Egypt unincum-
bered by special privileges to other
foreigners. He declined to discuss the
pean war. but emphatically denied
that 1t was intended as a pretext for
war.
Protection for Missions.
The ambassador pointed out that while
the capitulations were interviewer in most
Of Turkeys treaties. there were many
commercial treaties not affected by this
action. AS to American missions, he
made it clear that they would be protect
ed as formerly under Ottoman law
The principle effects of the abrogation.
he explained, would be to give Turkey the
right to impose whatever customs duties
she desired. to levy professional taxes on
foreigners and to substitute the jurisdic-
ton Of Turkish courts for extraterritortal
rights.
The following statement was authorized
by the Turkish ambassador several hours
after he had talked to Secretary BRYAN
on the subject.
I'm abrogating the capitulations Tur-
key is simply recovering national rights
belonging to nation, some of which
were granted by her in the middle ages
in unwtse moods of 1fberaiity; others
wrested from her; others again came to
be abandoned as a corollary of the
abandonment of the former.
1.-THE situation can be stated by saving
that Turkey has decided to be mistress
in her own house"
Holds Contracts Immoral,
Like any contract which in It's tenor
disregards the general principles of right
as, for instance, a contract STIMULATING
the sale Of one human being to another.
the capitulations have no sanction in eth
les and Turkey was free to dissolve them.
She had tried to attain that end bv
negotiations. but the great powers Of Eu
rope subordinated their consent to such
onerous conditions that. taking advantage
of the present situation. Turkey decided
to do away with the capituations by an
upi,ateral decision Of her own.
1.-THE United States enjoys some Of the
privileges OF the capitulations by virtue
Of the most favored nation clause Inserted
in the treaty concluded with Turkey in
1S30-that is. the United States became
the beneficiary of the capitulations only
incidentally.
1.-THE statement that the American
missionary institutions in Turkey are at.
fected by the capitu,ation is Inaccurate.
Those institutions exist in Turkey by vir-
tue of general laws governing the en-
pire"
NAMED BY BULGARIA