Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-09-11
GIVES FAIR WORDS
Friendly Attitude of New
Governor of Beirut.
ADVICES FROM COTTON
THIS GOVERNMENT PLEASED
WITH THE PoRTEs RECENT ACT
Minister Chekib Calls at the State De-
partment-Proposed Elevation Of
Minister Leishman.
ADVICES FROM COTTON

September 10, that the governor general Of
Damascus has been appointed acting gov
ernor general of Beirut, and has expressed
| the desire to settle the case Of the Ameri-
can vice consul satisfactorily to the United
| States government Beirut is quiet, busi-
ness improving confidence increasing.
| This Government Gratified
Minister Leishman has been instructed to
| advise the sublime porte that this govern
ment Is pleased at the immediate granting
of the request for the removal of the gov
ernor of Beirut. and the appointment in his
| stead of responsible person, and one more
favorable to foreigners than the former
! governor. The State Department has au-
| thentic advces that Governor General
| Nazim of Damascus, who has been appoint
! ed acting governor of Beirut, is a trust
worthy and broadminded man. with liberal
| ideas respecting foreigners and foreign
| enterprises.
! A long cablegram reached the State De-
partment today from Minister Leishman on
| the general situation in Turkey. The status
of Mr.. Leishman at Constantnople has in
creased greatly in prestige since the arrival
of the European squadron off Beirut
| 1t is understood that this government will
avail itself of the present opportunity to
| push to an early settlement the pending
| claims between the porte and the United
States. and also obtain permanent meas
ures of reform guaranteeing protection to
Americans throughout Turkey.
Proposed EN- bassy at Constantinople.
While 1t is matter that the State De-
| partment does not wish to discuss at pres
ent, 1t can be stated that this government
| will welcome the elevating of the Turkish
| minister at Washington to the rank of am
bassador so that Mr.. Leishman may be
given a corresponding promotion. That
would give the United States a status be-
fore the sublime porte second to none OF
the European powers. 1t would enable
Minister Leishman to obtain audiences with
| the sultan direct, instead of his having to
| deal with officials of the Turkish foreign
| office, as at present, which fact results
| In long delays in the dispatch of business.
This government some years ago took up
the matter with the porte, but the finances
of the sultan were not such then as to per-
NIT of his raising his legation here to an
| embassy.
Minister Chekib Calls.
Mr.. Chekib Bey, the Turkish minister,
| was an early caller at the State Depart
ment this morning, bringing further reas-
suring advices that condition of abso-
lutte peace has been established at Beirut"
The minister received over night a cable
gram from his foreign office confirming the
news of several days ago regarding the
religious riots at Beirut, in which eight
a Turkish soldier, the rest being civilians,
| of whom four were Christians and three
Mussulmans. The cablegram stated that
! the disturbance had no other bad results
Many of the persons who fed to Lebanon
after the riot are now returning and "a
condition of perfect calm has been estab-
| ished"
Consular Reports Exaggerated.
| The cablegram further stated that many
of he onf hv Of
foreign consuls at Beirut, who got their
| Information from excited persons had been
| greatly exaggerated
| The cablegram confirmed the news of the
| appointment as acting governor of Beirut
| of Nazim Pasha, the governor general of
| Damascus.
Il know the governor general of Da-
| mascus," said Chekfb Bey, "and 1 am sure
| he will prove power for good at Beirut
| He is an admirable character, popular with
foreigners, and will handle the situation
at Beirut with firm hand He is respect
ed throughout Turkey"
Minister Leishman has transmitted to
the State Department communication
from Consul Ravndal at Beirut, In which
the latter said that the situation there was
quieter. Many shops he said, were still
closed but the people were getting over
| the scare of Sunday. The text of the dis
patch was not made public, but it was ex-
conveyed relative to conditions at Beirut.
Ships May Be Ordered Away.
If the situation continues to improve at
Beirut, as reported by Minister Leishman
and Rear Admiral Cotton, the Navy De-
partment will order the European squad
ron away from that vicinity. 1t is believed
by the State Department that the object
of Admiral Cotton's visit to Beirut has
about been accomplished and that the ar
rival of the governor general of Syria with
two battalionS of troops to restore order
shows that the Turkish government is do
ing all that is necessary for the protection
of American and other foreign interests.
But even if the European squadron leaves
Beirut soon there is no intention on the
part of the authorities that it shall pro-
ceed so far away from the scene of the dis
turbance in Turkey that it cannot be used
in case of emergency. There is a desire
or the part of the authorities here to give
Turkey every opportunity to quell disturb
ances in her provinces without outside in
reference, and for that reason 1T has been
determined not to keep the European
squadron any longer than necessary at
Beirut.