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 receiv ing 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 reserve, 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 94-31 481 report that I addressed a communication to the Government of Nica ragua 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 receiv ing 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, a all take, only ST ures as are imposed upon it by duty themselves to a mission of civilization without reserve, upon the ample protec And thus satisfying your excellency 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.) are the honor to report that I have received from the minis 12 affairs a communication in regard to the taxation of for dear here, who are engaged in trade. This communication this legation about ten days after the Persian date of * his communication is herewith inclosed, with the trans orwarded copies of this communication to each of the of American citizens residing in Persia, with an explana . of which is inclosed. It is only in regard to their Gentions that the American missionaries could be brought Elenens of his new order. As both medical services and drugs to them without cost in those cases where the patient is im of the opinion that they will not be held by the Persament to be engaged in trade, within the meaning of the 3 WATSON R, SPERRY of in ›r in )V ch. ich ng, are sion ons, also sing quest tand ected rding of the 12,000 herbs), ar, tea, he pay Inclosure 1 in No. 60-Translation: Fuster of Foreign A fairs to Mr. Sperry. SIA. 27th of the month Zee Radah, A. IT. 130. KTM KIND FRIEND: It will be evident a "pa ny regter proposes to engage in any image ↑ volen Sabries, the sale of dry goods, medicines babe fake in the trade of a tailor, in Se stitom of ersia, he must participate with her g trøjene stelartent of the Government dues avation should not fall on lahe live rader and render 118 in meated complaints of the ativo • Hitions resident a Veteran, and itions have made year xcluded. although m unjust ers of the standing 1 person is o make up erally the of the Goving to his ny trade is g heard on n American hat any will DONALD, 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, etc., [Seal of Kavam ed-Dowlah.] [Inclosure 2 in No. 60.] Mr. Sperry to American citizens in Persia. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, 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, 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. He 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, |