EUGENE SCHUYLER, Consul-General to Horace Maynard, May 19, 1877

Mr. Schuyler to Mr. Maynard.

Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your dispatch No. 153, M. C, and to transmit to you herewith a translation of the law on the state of siege, recently passed by the Ottoman Parliament. I desire particularly to call your attention to articles 8, 10, and 13.

The proper interpretation of this law becomes of great importance, as it is not impossible that during the present war a state of siege may be proclaimed in Constantinople and other cities of the empire where there is a foreign population, and an attempt may be made to apply its provisions to foreigners.

In view therefore of the proper protection of the rights of citizens of the United States in Turkey, I have the honor to request your opinion as to how far the law on the state of siege would, under the plea of military necessity, be allowed to overrule article 4, of the treaty of 1830, and also to ask instructions as to what action should be taken in case of an attempt to apply articles 8, 10, and 13, of this law to citizens of the United States.

I am, &c.,