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report that I addressed a communication to the Government of Nicaragua on the subject and have received a reply, in which it is stated that as long as the said persons devote themselves strictly to a mission of Christianity and civilization, refraining from infringing upon the laws of Nicaragua or jeopardizing the peace of the country, they will be fully protected.

Copies of the above correspondence are herewith inclosed

I have, etc.,

LEWIS BAKER.

No. 76.]

[Inclosure 1 in No. 415.]

Mr. Baker to Mr. Baca.

LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, Managua, Nicaragua, October 18, 1894. MR. MINISTER: As you are aware, the Moravian Church has, for the past forty-six years, carried on mission work among the Indians of the Mosquito Reserve, under the protection of the Government which has heretofore existed in that territory.

It is believed that this work has done much to improve the condition of the Indians and to develop the country. There are, I am informed, some thirteen stations, with a membership of nearly 6,000. These stations are located at different places along the coast from Bluefields to within the vicinity of Sandy Bay. There are fourteen day schools, with between 600 and 700 scholars, under the care of the missionaries.

I am frank to say to you that I do not share in the apprehensions expressed to me that the change in the Government of the country will injuriously affect these missionaries and their work; but it will be a satisfaction to them to know from your honor that they will be as completely protected in the future as they have been in the past.

With high respect, etc.,

[Inclosure 2 in No. 415.-Translation.]

LEWIS BAKER.

No. 514.]

MINISTRY FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS, Managua, Nicaragua, October 22, 1894. MR. MINISTER: The day before yesterday I had the honor of receiving your note of the 18th instant.

Your excellency states that for many years past missionaries of the Moravian Church have resided on the Atlantic coast of this Republic, and that you desire to know if, contrary to the fears which have been expressed to you, but to which you do not give credit, my Government intends to observe toward them a conduct of protection.

I must state to your excellency, with the same frankness with which you spoke to me of the matter, that my Government being in duty bound to maintain peace, respect for the laws, and the absolute supremacy of our national sovereignty, has taken, and shall take, only such measures as are imposed upon it by duty; therefore, those who devote themselves to a mission of civilization and Christianity may count, without réserve, upon the ample protection of our laws.

And thus satisfying your excellency's desires, I take pleasure, etc., F. BACA, H.

No. 60.]

PERSIA.

TAXATION OF FOREIGNERS ENGAGED IN TRADE.

Mr. Sperry to Mr. Gresham.

LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES,

Teheran, Persia, July 3, 1893. (Received August 11.) SIR: I have the honor to report that I have received from the minister for foreign affairs a communication in regard to the taxation of foreigners, resident here, who are engaged in trade. This communication was received at this legation about ten days after the Persian date of it. A copy of this communication is herewith inclosed, with the translation. I have forwarded copies of this communication to each of the several groups of American citizens residing in Persia, with an explanatory note, a copy of which is inclosed. It is only in regard to their medical operations that the American missionaries could be brought under the terms of this new order. As both medical services and drugs are furnished by them without cost in those cases where the patient is unable to pay, I am of the opinion that they will not be held by the Persian Government to be engaged in trade, within the meaning of the new order.

I have, etc.,

WATSON R. SPERRY.

[Inclosure 1 in No. 60.-Translation.]

Minister of Foreign Affairs to Mr. Sperry.

TEHERAN, PERSIA, 27th of the month Zee Radah, A. H. 1310. YOUR EXCELLENCY AND KIND FRIEND: It will be evident to your mind that when any foreigner proposes to engage in any business, such as the weaving of woolen fabrics, the sale of dry goods, medicines, and haberdashery, or take up the trade of a tailor, in any of the provinces in the Kingdom of Persia, he must participate with his fellowtradesmen in the payment of the Government dues.

If this incident of taxation should not fall on all alike, foreigners being exempt from payment, that which has been remitted from them will fall upon the native trader and render his business unsafe and unprofitable.

Following on the repeated complaints of the native traders, the imperial foreign office has for several years past brought this matter to the notice of the foreign legations resident in Teheran, and has requested that they will give orders to all their subjects that whenever they shall engage in any local trade they shall pay the Government dues the same as others.

As some of the foreign legations have made representations to the effect that their subjects might enjoy the most-favored-nation privileges, this matter has just been discussed with the imperial Russian FR 94-31

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legation, and it has been concluded and established that the subjects of that state shall pay their taxes in the same proportion as the natives of Persia.

I beg to trouble your excellency with this information and respectfully request that you will communicate this matter to all citizens of your Government, and inform them that should any one of them from henceforth engage in any trade he must pay the Government taxes to the administrative officials of the Government of Persia. The officers appointed to carry out these duties will collect the usual trade taxes from your citizens forty days from the date of this letter, on the same assessment as that made against the subjects of other nations enjoying the most-favored-nation privileges.

I take this occasion to renew, [Seal of Kavam ed-Dowlah.]

etc.,

[Inclosure 2 in No. 60.]

Mr. Sperry to American citizens in Persia.

LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES,
Teheran, Persia, June 27, 1893.

MY DEAR SIR: I send you herewith, for the information of all concerned at your place, a copy of note recently received by me from the minister for foreign affairs. This note was not sent to me by the foreign office until ten days after its date. My personal opinion is that it will be made to apply only to those who are actually engaged in trade or business for the purpose of making money. Where, as in your case, drugs are handled for benevolent purposes, and not for personal profit, I think that there will be no attempt made to collect a tax.

Sincerely yours,

WATSON R. SPERRY.

No. 11.]

Mr. Gresham to Mr. McDonald.

DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
Washington, August 15, 1893.

He

SIR: I have received Mr. Sperry's dispatch No. 60 of the 3d ultimo, diplomatic series, in relation to the order of the Persian Government for the taxation of foreign residents engaged in trade in Persia. states that he has submitted a copy of this order to each of the American missionaries in Persia and has expressed to them the opinion that where, as in their case, drugs are handled for benevolent purposes and not for personal profit, no attempt would be made to collect the tax.

Consideration of the question would have been facilitated had Mr. Sperry reported the basis upon which native traders are taxed, and the manner in which it would affect the missionary dispensers of drugs, if applied to them. It would seem from Mr. Sperry's statements that the gratuitous practice of medicine and supply of drugs is confined to indigent patients. If the missionary doctors receive fees from those able to pay and furnish drugs to them for a price, there will be no valid objection to their being taxed for engaging in trade to the extent of their operations.

The question is whether the tax is scaled according to the amount of trade, or takes the form of a fixed license tax. If the latter, and it should be disproportionate to the limited feed practice of the missionaries, it is probable that the Persian Government would allow their gratuitous practice, if they should agree to confine themselves to that and abandon competition with natives who practice medicine for gain. Awaiting such observations as you may think prudent to offer in regard to the matter, W. Q. GRESHAM.

I am, etc.,

No. 15.]

Mr. McDonald to Mr. Gresham. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, Teheran, September 21, 1893. (Received October 27.) SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your No. 11 of August 15, 1893, in reply to Mr. Sperry's No. 60, diplomatic series, in regard to the order of the Persian Government for the taxation of foreign residents engaged in trade in Persia. The word trade as used in its general sense hardly expresses the term used in the Persian Government circular, which formed the subject of Mr. Sperry's dispatch. "The trades" would be the more correct form, meaning thereby such kinds of occupation as carpentry, tailoring, blacksmithing, shoemaking, hat making, drapery, etc. Wholesale exporters and importers are exempt from these taxes, on the ground that they pay their proportion of the general taxation in customs duty. Men engaged in professions, such as doctors, lawyers, and the priestly class generally, are also excluded.

The taxation of the trades is one of the oldest methods of raising revenue, and dates from about the time of the Mohammedan conquest of Persia, or upward of one thousand years ago; and, notwithstanding revolutions and the changes of dynasties, the amount collected from each trade has been rarely altered. Each trade is taxed according to some general computation of the profits gained in the course of the year. For instance, all the shoemakers of Teheran pay a tax of 12,000 krans, or about $1,500 a year; the sellers of native medicines (herbs), who also keep in their shops a few other articles, such as sugar, tea, tobacco, etc., pay a tax of 6,000 krans, or about $750 a year. The payment of these taxes has to be made during ten months of the yeartwo holy months, the months of Ramazan and Muharram are excluded. The levying and collecting the taxes are somewhat peculiar, although they secure to each person a certain degree of protection from unjust exactions. Once in six months a meeting of all the members of the trade is called at some appointed place, when the position and standing of each individual is inquired into, and the amount that each person is to pay is determined by themselves, in such proportion as to make up the full amount due to the Government. One person, generally the chief of the trade, is appointed, with an officer on the part of the Government, to collect the tax from each individual according to his assessment. Thus, it appears, that no one engaged in any trade is taxed without his having first had an opportunity of being heard on the subject.

I have not yet heard of any claim being made against an American citizen for the payment of these taxes, and I do not think that any will be made. ALEX, MCDONALD.

I have, etc.,

No. 57.]

Mr. McDonald to Mr. Gresham.

LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES,

Teheran, Persia, January 11, 1894. (Received February 17.) SIR: I have the honor to transmit herewith a copy of the translation of the memorandum sent from the foreign office respecting the taxation of foreigners engaged in various trades in Persia, and a copy of the translation of the reply thereto.

I am, etc.,

[Inclosure 1 in No. 57.]

ALEX. MCDONALD.

Memorandum from the Persian foreign office.

It has been decreed that all subjects of foreign powers engaged in the different trades and businesses of and residing in Persia shall pay the ordinary assessed taxes, in the same proportion as the natives of the country.

As the various legations of foreign countries have sent in the names of their subjects employed in the trades, it is respectfully requested that the legation (the United States) will also send into the foreign office a list of its subjects, that regulations may be issued regarding

them.

[Seal of the Kavam-ed-Dowlah, minister of foreign affairs.]

[Inclosure 2 in No. 57.]

Memorandum from United States legation in reply to the above.

LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES,

Teheran, January 10, 1894.

In reply to the memorandum of the imperial foreign office, dated the 28th of Jamadi-es-Sani, corresponding to the 5th of January, respecting the taxation of foreigners engaged in the various trades of Persia, this legation begs to report, for the information of the foreign office, that, having made careful inquiries, it finds that throughout Persia there are no citizens of the United States engaged in any of the taxable trades referred to in the memorandum.

ALEX. MCDONALD.

ASSIGNMENTS OF CLAIMS BY PERSIAN SUBJECTS TO FOREIGNERS.

No. 21.]

Mr. McDonald to Mr. Gresham.

LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES,

Teheran, September 25, 1893. (Received November 3.) SIR: I have the honor to inclose for your information a copy and translation of a circular memorandum, received from the Persian foreign minister on the 22d instant.

The practice to which the memorandum refers is of long standing. When a Persian subject fails to recover a claim from a fellow-citizen to which he thinks he has a bona fide right, he very often transfers the

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