Mr. Leishman to Mr.
Hay.
Legation of the United States,
Constantinople, July 24,
1902.
No. 237.]Sir: I have the honor to inclose herewith copy
of a dispatch from Consul Bergholz, in which he makes a request, at the
instance of the Rev. Dr. Cole, that the British vice-consul at Bitlis be
authorized to look after American interests in the Bitlis district.
I have no hesitation in indorsing Mr. Bergholz’s recommendation, first
having obtained the Department’s approval, in which event I am quite
satisfied the British Government will cheerfully give its consent, as my
English colleague here has frequently suggested the desirability of
having our consular agents throughout the Ottoman Empire look after each
other’s interests in the event of only one of the two powers having an
agent in the district.
Awaiting your advices, I have, etc.,
[Page 1043]
[Inclosure.]
Mr. Bergholz to
Mr. Leishman.
Consulate of the United States,
Erzerum, Turkey, July 15, 1902.
Sir: Referring to the last paragraph of my
dispatch No. 131, dated February 10, regarding the question of
intrusting American interests at Bitlis to the British vice-consul
and to your reply of February 28, No. 174 M. C, I am now in receipt
of a letter from Rev. R. M. Cole, of the American mission, dated
July 5, in which he writes me as follows:
“Our vali refuses to recognize any particular interference of the
English vice-consul in protection of our American interests till
special instructions on the point are given.”
Since the Department not deemed it advisable to take up, at the
present time, the question of appointing a consul at Bitlis, and in
view of the fact that our missionaries there are wholly dependent
upon the British consular representative for the protection of their
interests and treaty rights, and for such assistance as they may be
need, as I am so far away that I am unable to render them with the
promptness necessary the aid they may desire, and having, besides,
no official recognition either from: the To rte or the local
authorities outside of the province of Erzerum, I would respectfully
recommend that your excellency obtain the consent of the British
embassy to having American interests within the Bitlis Province
represented by the British vice-consul and have, at the same time, a
vizierial letter sent to the governor general at Bitlis directing
him to recognize the British vice-consulate as representing the
United States.
I have, etc.,
