No. 282.] Mr. Eddy to Mr. Hay. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR: Referring to the correspondence exchanged between the Department and this legation, and particularly to the Department's instraction No. 228 of August 27, ultimo, in relation to the protection of American interests at Bitlis by the British vice-consul there, I have the honor to state that I have received from the ministry of foreign affairs the customary ministerial letter recognizing him in this capacity, and I have this day transmitted same to the British ambassador, Sir Nicholas O'Conor, who has already authorized the official above mentioned to use his good offices for Americans in his jurisdiction. I have, etc., SPENCER EDDY. FRICTION BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES MINISTER AND THE GRAND VIZIER. Mr. Leishman to Mr. Hay. [Telegram.-Paraphrase.] LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, (Mr. Leishman reports that a number of matters on which the minister for foreign affairs had taken favorable action, and so officially notified him during the past few months, have been countermanded or annulled by the grand vizier, who has repeatedly declined to see Mr. Leishman, a courtesy which is always extended to even the dragomans of the embassies; that no personal feeling could possibly enter into the matter, as the grand vizier has been in office only a few months and Mr. Leishman has seen him but once, when he called to pay his respects and extend congratulations upon the grand vizier's appointment. In order to exhaust every effort Mr. Leishman again called this date (August 7) upon the grand vizier, but was again refused a reception. He then called upon the minister for foreign affairs and demanded an audience with the Sultan, at the same time requesting the minister to acquaint His Imperial Majesty with the nature of the business. Mr. Leishman requests that, unless this audience with the Sultan is granted and not only the questions at issue but the principles involved in them are satisfactorily settled, he be given permission to demand his passports; and states that it would be worse than useless and derogatory to the dignity of the United States Government to continue relations with the Sublime Porte if, after weeks and even months of hard and patient work, business which has been fully settled with the minister for foreign affairs is to be rendered unavailing by the grand vizier's conflicting and countermanding orders.) Mr. Leishman to Mr. Hay. [Telegram.-Paraphrase.] LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, (Mr. Leishman reports that the Sultan has expressed, through the private secretary, the wish that Mr. Leishman would overlook the dis courtesy shown him, on the ground that the grand vizier is an old man and not feeling well, and call on the grand vizier on August 12. Mr. Leishman has felt compelled to firmly but politely refuse to comply with this wish, on the ground that, although such a course might perhaps result in the settlement of some of the immediate questions at issue, it would, under present conditions, neither be compatible with the dignity of the Government of the United States nor settle the important principles involved; for, unless agreements which have been concluded between Mr. Leishman and the minister for foreign affairs are to be respected, it would be both undignified and useless for the representative of a great power such as the United States to attempt to prosecute its business through such a powerless intermediary. Mr. Leishman expresses the conviction that good results will ensue from his firm stand.) (Mr. Adee suggests that, the Sultan having arranged for Mr. Leishman to meet the grand vizier, it may be best to see him and strongly insist upon adherence to agreements between Mr. Leishman and the minister for foreign affairs.) (Mr. Leishman states that the emigration of wives and minor children of Ottoman origin is only one of the questions that have been settled with the minister for foreign affairs, but rendered inoperative by action of the grand vizier, who, when Mr. Leishman called to attempt to adjust the difficulties, declined, on four successive occasions, to receive him; that other questions are such as stopping completion of American mission buildings at Harput, for which official permit had been granted; failure to surrender policies of the New York Life Insurance Company seized at Tchoroun, etc., all of which the minister for foreign affairs notified Mr. Leishman had been settled and orders issued putting them into execution. Finding that these orders were ignored, Mr. Leishman, before assuming his present position, went through the farce of again taking up the matter and having fresh orders issued, with same results. Mr. Leishman states that there are other annoying cases pending, the settlement of a number of which will probably result from action already taken; but that unless proper satisfaction is insisted on in the present instance the important principle as to whether questions settled with the minister for foreign affairs are to be permitted to he rendered practically null and void by conflicting orders of the grand vizier, and whether the latter's refusal to grant to the Government of the United States treatment equal to that accorded to other great powers is to be tolerated will remain unsettled. * *) * Mr. Leishman to Mr. Hay. [Telegram.-Paraphrase.] LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, (Mr. Leishman reports that, the Sultan having sent his secretary begging Mr. Leishman to overlook the discourtesy of the grand vizier, and at the same time giving assurance that the questions immediately at issue would all be settled, and that His Imperial Majesty had sent the most emphatic instructions to the grand vizier to receive Mr. Leishman at all times in a manner befitting the dignity of the representative of a great power, he has consented to resume ordinary relations. Having been forced to assume a strong position, Mr. Leishman regrets that the settlement was not based upon broader principles. but states that the action taken will undoubtedly have a good effect; that in view of wishes expressed in the Department's cabled instructions, he deemed it wise to close the affair on an honorable basis and to avoid even the possibility of strained relations.) Mr. Leishman to Mr. Hay. No. 252.] LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, Constantinople, August 21, 1902. SIR: My several cables will have already explained the nature of the trouble which I have experienced during the past two weeks and the manner in which they have been adjusted. The maintenance of the dignity of the Government of the United States and its prestige in Turkey made it impossible for me to avoid the issue, for, while the immediate questions involved were of trifling importance, the principles involved were of a character that could not be overlooked, as I found myself completely blocked, the minister for foreign affairs being unable to put into execution the different questions that had been settled, owing to conflicting orders of the grand vizier, who on four successive occasions had declined to see me. Ünder these conditions it appeared useless to me to attempt to proceed further through the ordinary channels, and I could see no other way but to appeal the matter to His Imperial Majesty and assume the position that until such time as the questions which had been finally settled with the foreign office were put into execution and proper explanation made that I could have no particular relations with the Sublime Porte. Although His Imperial Majesty avoided an unpleasant personal interview, he has treated the entire matter in the most gracious and considerate manner, appealing to me on personal grounds to overlook the matter and arrange an amicable settlement, and besides giving me the assurance that the difficulty would be promptly adjusted. He intimated his intention to establish a commission, with a view to adjust if possible the troublesome questions of naturalized American citizens of Ottoman origin who returned to their native land, who, according to the Ottoman laws, have never ceased to be Turkish subjects, and also the emigration of the immediate families of naturalized American citizens of Ottoman origin whose husbands and fathers are permanently established in the United States. Now that the immediate troubles have been arranged, I have little doubt but that the Sultan will send for me to come and see him within the next week or ten days, as my personal relations with His Imperial Majesty are most friendly. Trusting that my actions will meet with your approval, I have, etc., JOHN G. A. LEISHMAN. Mr. Adee to Mr. Leishman. [Telegram.-Paraphrase.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, August 22, 1902. (Mr. Adee states that the settlement reached, as reported in Mr. Leishman's telegram of August 21, is gratifying; that the broader principle thus established should admit of ready adjustment of differences; that it is indispensable that dealings between governments should be conducted through adequately empowered and responsible agencies; and that, if the Turkish minister for foreign affairs is incompetent to assure the faithful execution of his engagements, Mr. Leishman must treat with some one who can give such assurance.) No. 253.] Mr. Leishman to Mr. Hay. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, Constantinople, August 23, 1902. SIR: I am just in receipt of your cable of yesterday, and am pleased to note that the settlement reached in regard to the recent difficulty meets with the Department's approval. The idea conveyed in latter part of your telegram is exactly in accordance with the line of action I pursued, i. e., having concluded a number of small questions with the imperial minister of foreign affairs, who notified me officially of their settlement and also of the fact of orders having been issued to the several departments putting them into execution, I waited a reasonable length of time for these orders to be carried out, but finding that the local authorities had not received the promised instructions, owing to conflicting orders issued by the grand vizier, I called the attention of the minister for foreign affairs to the fact, who seemed very much annoyed and promised to have the trouble corrected at once, afterwards showing me a copy of renewed orders to minister of the interior, minister of posts, etc., instructing them to immediately put former orders into execution, but the same result followed. I then endeavored on four different occasions to see the grand vizier with a view of having him correct the trouble, but he repeatedly declined to see me on one excuse or another, at the same time referring me to the minister for foreign affairs. Finding myself thus completely blocked, the minister for foreign affairs, despite his apparently good intention, appearing incompetent to put his orders into execution, owing to superior orders of the grand vizier, who declined to see me, there was no other diplomatic remedy left but to appeal the matter to the Sultan. So, consequently, I notified the minister for foreign affairs that the position I found myself in was incompatible with the dignity of the United States Government, and that until such time as the questions which had been settled were put into execution and proper explanations made that I could not continue my ordinary relations with the Sublime Porte, at the same time demanding an audience with His Imperial Majesty. The outcome you are already made familiar with by previous communications, and I can only hope that the apparently good results will prove lasting. I am of the opinion that the action taken by His Imperial Majesty will assure more respectful and considerate treatment at the Porte in the future, and that the position assumed will have a good effect generally. I have, etc., JOHN G. A. LEISHMAN. JEWS IN ROUMANIA-DISCRIMINATIONS AGAINST, CONDITION OF HELPLESSNESS TO WHICH THEY ARE REDUCED, AND OBJECTION OF UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT TO IMMIGRATION OF SUCH PERSONS. Mr. Leishman to Mr. Hay. No. 256.] LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your unnumbered instruction of August 12, 1902. I shall lose no time in acquainting the Sublime Porte with the contents of the circular instruction" therein inclosed which deals with the situation of the Jews in Roumania. I ask Your Majesty to accept my congratulations upon the anniversary of your accession to the Ottoman throne. THEODORE ROOSEVELT. a Printed under Austria, page 42. |