An Important Actor in Ottoman-Mexican Relations during the World War I: The United States of America

Abstract

This article examines the application of the Ottoman State to the US administration for the protection of the rights of the Ottoman citizens in Mexico during the First World War and the developments afterwards. Since the Ottoman Empire did not have a consulate in Mexico, the Ottoman citizens residing in this country were deprived of an authority to apply to defend their rights in case of difficulties. The Ottoman government took action after the increased complaints to the Ottoman Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Ottoman Empire, which could not open a consulate in a country very far from its borders, applied for the assistance of the USA. A request was made for the protection of the interests of the Ottoman citizens in Mexico to be carried out by the US consular officers in this country and it was accepted. The US Department of State stated that the US officials would protect the rights of the Ottoman citizens living in Mexico within the framework of goodwill. However, it was also underlined that the US officials in Mexico did not become a public officer of the Ottoman State by doing as such. After the USA accepted the request of the Ottoman State, the Ottoman citizens in Mexico started to apply to the US consulates in this country about the problems they encountered. The US officials attempted before the Mexican administration to solve the problems. The US Department of State informed the Ottoman Embassy in Washington about these applications and the steps taken subsequently. After the USA declared war on Germany in 1917, the Ottoman-US diplomatic relations were severed. However, the issue of protecting the rights of the Ottoman citizens living in Mexico in the period until this time has been one of the topics in the Ottoman-US relations.