The daily morning journal and courier., 1897-01-18
WANTS AN AMBAs-7ooR.

A Correspondent Advocates Elevating
 Our Diplomatic Representative at
 Constantinople to the Rank of Am
 bassador-Reasons for Such
 Change.
 To the Editor of the Journal and Courier:
 Boston, Jan, 15.-Because of the pro- found interest which the people of our country now have In Turkey and the changes which will undoubtedly take place there in no distant future, may respectfully call your attention to the importance of elevating our diplomatic representative at Constantinople to the rank of an ambassador, and ask if yo4, will kindly give the matter your editorial consideration? I hope you will also advise your readers, who are convinced of the importance of this change, to write to their representa- tives in congress and in the senate to this end
 Undoubtedly the next administration will make no more important foreign appointments than the appointment of minister or ambassador to Constanti- nople That city will probably be the center of diplomatic discussion which will affect all Europe and Asia. Amer ican interests in that country, apart from political questions, are second therein to no other country. These in terests must be protected in the changes that are contemplated. American property has been destroy ed during the last fourteen months and American rights have been violat- ed and the flag insulted, for which no indemnity has been paid or apology of- l fered. And the violations continue. No other country has been treated in this manner Our representative at Con stantinople, having only the rank of minister, is not taken into the confi- dences of the ambassadors of other powers, and occupies position in precedence at the porte below all ann bassadors as well as the ministers who have had a longer term of service than l he.
 | American interests are of such inn portance that we need the best repre- sentation possible to obtain, unhamper- ed by any limitations of position. We need the best international diplomat our country possesses, with the largest l possible liberty in the exercise of his | functions Such man might be ob- ] tained as an ambassador, but there is little hope that he would be willing to 1 go as a minister.
 By act of congress any country send ing an ambassador to the United l States will receive one of equal rank from the United States. There Is no I probability that Turkey will raise her representative at Washington to an ambassador, because she does not wish this country to have more influence or power at Constantinople than we now ' possess, for the same reasons that she did not grant exequaturs to the con- suls sent out nearly twenty months ago to occupy the new consulates at Har- I poot and Erzroom, created by act of l congress. Turkey does not wish a 1 larger or better protection for Ameri- can interests in the empire; hence a i separate act of congress will be neces- sary to bring about the desired change.
 American interests in Turkey are represented by residence there of over 200 native born American citizens, be- sides many naturalized citizens, by vested funds representing several mill lions of dollars, and by the annual ex- penditure in that country of more than five hundred thousand dollars. This sum represents larger interest than the same amount spent in trade for which an equivalent is obtained in goods.
 It is important that early action be l taken by congress. There is reason to l hope that as ambassador no less man than John w. Foster, President James I B. Angel or Andrew J. White could be induced to accept the place
 l Most sincerely yours
 JAMES L. BARTON.