Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-05-09
Friction With the Grand Vizier.

Indications of serious friction between the
United States minister and the grand vtzier
appear in a dispatch of August I, 1902, in
which Mr.. Leishman reports that num-
ber of matters which the minister for
foreign affairs had taken favorable action
have been countermanded or annuled by
the grand ViZier. who has repeatedly de-
cIined to see Mr.. Leishman, a courtesy
which IS always extended to even the drag
omen of the embassies; that personal
feeling could possibly enter into the mat
ter. as the grand viZier has been in office
only a few months, and Mr.. Leishman has
seen him but once, when he called 10 pay
his respects and extend congratulations on
the grand vizier's appointment In order TO
exhaust every effort Mr. Leshman again
called upon the grand vzer this date (Au-
gust -, but was again refused reception.
He then called upon the minister for for
egn affairs, and demanded an audience
with the sultan az the same time. request
ing the minister to acquaint his imperial
majesty with the nature of the business.
Mr.. Leishman requests that unless this
audience with the sultan is granted. and
not only the questions at issue but the
principles involved in them. are satisfac-
torily settled, he be given permission to
demand his passports and states that 1t
would be worse than useless. and deroga-
tory to the dignity of the United States
government. to continue relations with the
sublime porte If. after weeks. and even
months. of hard and patient work. business
which has been fairly settled with the min
lister for foreign affairs is to be rendered
unavailing by the grand viziers conflicting
and countermanding orders"
The Sultan Apologies for His Official
Four days later Minister Leishman re-
ported that the sultan has expressed
through the private secretary, the wish
that Mr. Leishman would overlook the
discomtesy shown him. on the ground that
~
feeling well. and call on the grand vizier
on August u Mr. Leishman has felt COM
PEELED TO firmly but politely refuse to COM
ply with this wish, on the ground that. al
though such a course might perhaps result
in the settlement of some of the immediate
questions at issue, 1t would under present
conditions neither be compatible with the
dignity of the government of the United
States nor settle the important principles
involved. for unless agreements which have
been concluded between Mr. Leishman and
the minister for foreign affairs to be
respected it would be both undignified and
useless for the representative or great
power such the United States to at
tempt to prosecute its business through
such powerless intermediary. Mr.. Leish-
man expresses the conviction that good re-
suits will ensue from his firm stand
In reply Mr.. Adee suggested that the sui
tan having arranged for Mr.. Leishman to
meet the grand vizier, "ft may be best to
see him and strongly insist upon adherence
to agreements between Mr.. Leishman and
the minister for foreign affairs
Repeated Discourtesy.
In a later dispatch Mr.. Leishman states
that the emigration OF wives and minor
children of Ottoman origin is only one of
the questions that have been settled with
the minister for foreign affairs. but rem
dered imperative by action of the grand
vizier who, when Mr.. Leishman called to
attempt to adjust the difficulties, declined
on four successive occasions to him;
that other questions are such as stopping
completion of American mission buildings
at Harput for which official permit had
been granted failure to surrender policies
of the New York Life Insurance Company
seized at Tchoroun, etc, all of which, the
minister for foreign affairs notified Mr..
LeiShman. had been settled and orders is
sued putting them into execution. Finding
that these orders We're ignored. Mr.. Leish-
man. before assuming his present position
went through the farce of again taking up
the matter and having fresh orders issued,
with the same result.
Mr.. Leishman states that there are other
annoying cases pending, the settlement of
n number of which will probably result
from action already taken; but that unless
proper satisfaction is insisted on in the
present instance the important principle as
to whether questions settled with the min