Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-08-29
HAY AT HIS DESK TODAY
SAYS THERE Is INSURRECTION IN
EASTERN TURKEY.
Several Consulates Have Notified Their
Governments of Unsafe
Conditions.


ments made at the time of his departure for
Oyster Bay.
Mr. Hay said that while uprisings in
Turkish dominion were more or less chronic
the present state of affairs assumes the
proportions of an insurrection of consider
able magnitude. He would not disclose the
text of the cablegram received last night
from Minister Leishman. but said that the
minister's advices were that the erroneous
report Of the assassination of Mr.. Magels-
sen was due to the use Of wrong code num-
ber and not to any error in translation. The
information given in the cablegram was
that the governor called at the consulate
and offered prompt action and would make
every effort to find out and punish the
would-be assassin. Mr.. Leishman further
advised the Secretary that several Of the
consulates have reported to their govern
ments that the condition of the city Of Bel
rut at the present moment is unsafe.
With the view to furnishing Secretary
Hay with the fullest facts concerning the
reports which have come from the mission
aries in Turkey, a committee representing
the board of American missions will call
upon Secretary Hay possibly tomorrow, he
having indicated a desire to meet such a
committee and obtain from them all infor-
nation in their possession.
Full Text Of Dispatches.
The full text of the dispatches of Minister
Leishman bearing on the Magelssen affair,
with the exception Of the one received last
night saying that the vice consul had not
been killed. is as follows:
"THERAPIA, August q, 1903.
Secretary of State, Washington.
"Just received telegram from consul of
the United States at Beirut advising me
that our vice consul was assassinated last
Sunday night while driving in carriage.
Murderer unseen and unknown. No expla-
nation is given for delay in reporting the
nor is unsatisfactory. Have asked for fur
ther particulars and will at once make Wig
orous representations at the sublime porte.
"LEISHMAN.'
"THERAPIA, August q, 1903.
Secretary of State, Washington.
Il have made proper representations TO
the sublime porte with reference to the as
saSsination of vice consul, but pending re-
ception of fuller details and also your in
structionS / have made no demands other
than asking for investigationSand explana-
tions, which the minister for foreign affairs
assured me will be given immediate atten-
ton.
THE troubles in Macedonia become worse
and more extended each day, and outside
of the necessity which may present itself
OF sending ship to Beirut for 4 proper
time 1t seems to me advisable to keep a
ship within easy range of Turkish waters
in order to be In position to more fully pro-
tect American citizens should the revolution
assume more alarming proportions"
THE insurgents have become more ag-
gressive in eastern Roumania since VISIT
of Russian war vessels and the passenger
train from Europe was blown up with
dynamite this morning about fifty miles
from Constantinople, killing or wounding
most of the passengers.
"LEIsHMAN"
''THERAPI-, August a. 1903
Secretary of State, Washington:
Minister for foreign affairs has inst Sepf
me word stating that reported assassina-
tion of American vice consul entirely false
adding that security Beirut district is
perfect. Am without further advices from
Consul Ravndal, and unable to account
for such conflicting statements. Will re-
port further as soon as 1 can obtain nee
esary information. LEISHMAN."
Admiral Cotton Going to Beirut.
Although the announcement of the assas--
sination of Vice Consul Magelssen has
proven to have been an error, the Presi-
dent has not seen fit to recall the order to
the European squadron TO proceed to
Beirut, and Admiral Cotton is now on his
way to that port in obedience to orders.
1t Is felt in diplomatic circles that a dem
onstration of naval power in Turkish wa
ters at this time will be eminently good
thing for the dignity of the United States
the effect being to display to the sultan
the necessity for controlling his subjects
officers of this nation.
1t will have the effect of insuring the
protection of American citizens in Turkish
domfnions, and any other course than that
that has been pursued would be lacking in
the dignity of a first rate power. Admiral
Cotton has been instructed to make an i'm
mediate investigation. in conjunction with
Minister Leishman. of the outrage against
Magelssen, unless the State Depart
ment receives such news that 1t is felt JUS
titled In closing the incident.
Machias Has Left Genoa. 8,
dispatch was received this morning by
the Navy Department from Captain Henry
McCrea Of the Machias, saying he had
finished coaling at Genoa and would sail
for Port Said en- route for
Beirut. The course will be direct one.
and the department does not expect to hear
from him again until his arrival at the
last named port.
Admiral Cotton in a dispatch to the Navy
Department this morning announced the ar
rival at Genoa of the Brooklyn and San
Francisco. where they will take on coal
Acting Secretary Darling Immediately ad-
vfsed Secretary Hay Of this information,
adding that the vessels would sail for
Beirut as soon as they had finished coal
ing. This will probably take a day, and
they should be at Beirut by the middle of
next week.
New Turn In the Case.
A decidedly new turn in the case of
United States Vice Consul William c.
Magelssen at Beirut Syria. who was re-
ported to have been assassinated last Sum
day, developed tonight when 1t became
known that the report was incorrect and
that although Mr.. Magelssen had been
shot at he had not even been injured This
information came to the State Department
tonight in a dispatch from United States
Minister Leishman at Constantinople, who
said the mistake In making the original
announcement was due to an error in the
transmission of the cipher dispatch from
Consul Ravndal at Beirut in reporting the
incident to the minister
The dispatch from Mr.. Leishman follow
ed closely on the Associated Press bulle-
tin on the same subject which had been
shown to the prominent officials of the
government. The dispatch from the min
lister was communicated at once to the
President at Oyster Bay. but up to a later
hour tonight nothing had been heard from