File No. 4960/64–68.
Ambassador Leishman
to the Secretary of State.
[Extract.]
American Embassy,
Constantinople, May 15,
1907.
No. 265.]Sir: With further reference to my several
dispatches on the subject of the customs increase, I have the honor to
confirm the note of the Sublime Porte contained in my telegraphic
dispatch No. 42 of the 3d instant, stating the different concessions
made in settlement of our demands (inclosure No. 1). It has been
agreeable for me to have enjoyed the privilege of contributing to the
task of placing American rights in the Ottoman Empire on a footing of
equality with those of other nations, and I beg to heartily thank the
department for the support and aid it has given the embassy in effecting
this.
The settlement thus far obtained recognizes for the first time the
official existence of American missions in the Ottoman Empire, and the
principle secured is of far more importance than the concessions
themselves. While I am glad that injustice has been corrected in the
case of the Syrian customs immunities and the new buildings at Talas,
Cesarea. The precedent established in the recognition of our mission is
one of far greater importance, and I am thankful that it has been
effected by purely diplomatic means. It has likewise been agreeable for
me to have been instrumental in aiding our commercial
[Page 1055]
interests by securing the entry into
Turkey of cotton-seed oil. The correction of titles has not yet been put
into execution. The imperial irade to this effect had been sent to the
Sublime Porte for transmission to the archives, but the director thereof
found himself unable to obey, not having the title deeds describing the
properties in question. These had been sent to the palace, where the
Sultan’s secretary refused to surrender them without another irade. As
further delay would have been occasioned to obtain this, the simplest
solution was found to be for the embassy to furnish new copies of all
the title deeds, a proceeding which has required considerable labor on
our part. There have been other instances of difficulty. The first
instructions sent to the customs authorities at Beirut only extended the
immunities to the college and its affiliated institutions, all of which
were already recipients of such privileges. I was therefore obliged to
take up the matter vigorously at the capital, and I am glad to say that
it has now been corrected. Lately I heard that the necessary orders had
been issued to the customs at Beirut that all American institutions in
Syria were officially recognized and were henceforth to be accorded the
immunities, very much to the gratification of the missionaries in Syria,
as evidenced by Mr. Eavndal’s telegram (inclosure No. 2). And yesterday
I was the recipient of a testimonial signed by the officers of the
annual meeting of the Western Turkey Mission, now sitting here,
expressing appreciation for the “far-reaching settlement” effected by
the embassy, a copy of which is inclosed (inclosure No. 3).
On May 3 I received a note from the Sublime Porte, a copy of which, with
translation, I also have the honor to inclose (inclosure No. 4),
requesting the adhesion of the embassy to the proposed customs
increase.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure
1.—Translation.]
The Minister for Foreign
Affairs to Ambassador Leishman.
Sublime Porte,
Ministry for Foreign
Affairs,
Constantinople, May 3,
1907.
No. 68775.]Mr. Ambassador: In reply to the different
communications which your excellency was good enough to address to
me relative to certain affairs discussed between the imperial
ministry and the American embassy I have the honor to state that, in
compliance with a mazbata of the council of ministers sanctioned by
irade of His Imperial Majesty the Sultan, the Sublime Porte has
already by imperial order communicated to the embassy the decision
previously reached of treating American establishments in Turkey on
the same footing as those of other nations. In applying this
principle, the Sublime Porte having proceeded to the correction of
the registers of establishments and institutions forming part of the
list filed by the embassy which were in possession of and occupied
by Americans holding regular title deeds, an irade of His Imperial
Majesty the Sultan has just ordered the execution of this formality
so far as concerns the establishments and institutions of which the
embassy had asked the change of titles and which were submitted to
the sovereign sanction after examination by the competent
department. 2. The necessary orders have already been transmitted to
the Vilayet of Angora in order that the local authorities should no
longer raise objections to the construction of new buildings to be
added to the school and the dispensary at Talas. 3. The customs
authorities in Syria and at Salonica have likewise received orders
to grant existing
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American establishments and institutions the legal régime of customs
immunities enjoyed by the other similar foreign establishments. 4.
The department of indirect contributions has been requested to apply
the method of coloring cotton oils only when they are impure or
adulterated.
In bringing the above to your notice I take occasion, etc.,
[Inclosure 2.]
Consul-General
Ravndal to Ambassador Leishman.
[Telegram.]
American Consulate-General,
Beirut, May 13,
1907.
Customs director here has received a telegram from Constantinople
that all American establishments in Syria have been officially
recognized and that they must be accorded immunities. Americans here
rejoicing, including myself. Send you hearty felicitations and
thanks.
[Inclosure 3.]
Testimonial of the officers of the Western Turkey Mission to Ambassador
Leishman.
American Bible House,
Constantinople, May
14, 1907.
Sir: Your letter of May 8 addressed to Mr.
Peet, in which you report the substance of action taken by the
Sublime Porte concerning rights and immunities which have just been
by irade of His Imperial Majesty the Sultan extended to American
citizens and to their educational and other work in this Empire, has
been read to our meeting now convened in this city.
We are directed on behalf of the meeting and of our associates in
this Empire to express to you our most hearty thanks for the
satisfactory note which through your efforts has lately been
obtained from the Sublime Porte in evidence of a settlement placing
American citizens and institutions on an equality with those of
other nations. We are aware that the settlement of this important
case has entailed a great amount of labor and careful thought on the
part of both yourself and your staff, and its accomplishment
represents a large measure of industry and devotion in its
behalf.
We are confident that the same interest which you have thus far
manifested and which has achieved for us this far-reaching
settlement will also secure the vigorous maintenance of our rights
until the work so well begun is entirely completed.
Again assuring you of our sincere gratitude,
We are, etc.,
| George F.
Herrick, |
Chairman. |
| Joseph K.
Greene, |
Secretary. |
| W. W. Peet |
} |
Committee. |
| M. Bowen |
| Edward Riggs |
[Inclosure
4.—Translation.]
The Minister for Foreign
Affairs to Ambassador Leishman.
Sublime Porte,
Minister for Foreign
Affairs,
Constantinople, May 3,
1907.
The ministry for foreign affairs has the honor to inform the
Americanambassador that as a result of the negotiations passed
between the Sublime Porte and the German, Austro-Hungarian, French,
British, Italian, and Russian embassies,
[Page 1057]
an agreement has been reached for an increase
of 3 per cent in the customs duties, such measure going into effect
the 25th of June of this year. In bringing the foregoing facts to
the notice of the American embassy, the minister for foreign affairs
trusts that the embassy will kindly adhere to the above agreement,
until such time as a new commercial treaty will permit commercial
relations between the two countries being established upon a
definite basis.
