The Savannah morning news., 1904-08-15
Disseminated
AGAINST The US,
QUESTIONS WITH TURKEY
ARE THOSE OF UNFAIR TREAT
MENT OF AMERICANS.

Other Nations We're Favored and
Given Advantages That Were De-
MED the United States-SO Pro-
nOunced Did This Attitude of Tur-
key Become That This Country
Was Forced to Make a Demand
for a More Friendly Attitude.
Washington. Aug. 1.-THE Asso-
ciated Press has received. from a prom
inent official of the Department of
State statement of the pending ques-
tions with Turkey and the steps taken
towards the adjustment. In part, it
is as follows:
For many years the treatment of
educational establishments in the Of
toman empire founded and conducted
by American citizens has been unsatis-
factory. While similar schools under
the direction of foreigners have been
recognized as existing, and have been
accorded the regular license. or imperial
Firman, upon application therefor,
applications on behalf of the schools
under American control have passed
unnoticed.
Temporary permits obtained from
the local authorities have been hedged
in with restrictions and have not in
frequently been ignored by the Turkish
government. Difficulties and obstruc-
tions have constantly been put in the
way of the American teachers, in
marked contrast to the favor shown to
schools of other nationalities and in
contravention of the rights of Ameri-
can citizens in Turkey to the most IA
Vored treatment accorded to the citi-
zens, or subjects of other states. This
discrimination was especially notice.
able with regard to the Protestant
Medical College at Beirut in the matter
of examinations and the right of grad
yates to exercise their profession, it
being denied the same privileges ac-
corded the French Medical School at
Beirut.
Ordered to See the sultan.
The earnest efforts of the American
minister at Constantinople to secure
for our schools and teachers the sim
pie equality of treatment to which
they are entitled having met with eva
sive and dilatory treatment by the
Sublime Porte, the President, on Feb.
2 1903, cabled Minister Leishman, di-
recting him to ask an audience of the
Sultan, in. order to deliver to him a
personal message from the President
of good will and assurances of his
hearty desire to cultivate and main
tain the most cordial relations of
friendship and to bring to the personal
and direct attention of his majesty the
embarrassments and grievances under
which this government and it's citi-
zens labor with the expression of the
Presidents desire and expectation that
the treatment of the most favored ma
tion would be received and the claim
of our colleges and schools to equal
treaty rights would be promptly recog-
nized.
Mr.. Leishman's request for an audi
ence was met with much evasion and
delay, but an trade was issued for the
examination of the students at the
medical school at Beirut. 1t was not
until April that Mr.. Leishman was
enabled to deliver the Presidents mes
sage in personal audience of the Sui
tan. His majesty was pleased to prom
Use immediate consideration to the re-
quests therein conveyed.
No progress whatever was made dur
ing the next four months toward the
settlement of the questions at issue,
and the Presidents message still re-
NAMED unanswered, notwithstanding
representations.
The Beirut Assassination.
In the summer of 1903, the report Of
the attempted assassination of the
American vice consul al Beirut led to
the visit of the American Mediterra-
mean squadron TO that port TO investi-
gate the circumstances. Its presence
was opportune. The notorious inse-
curity of foreign life and property at
Beirut was remedied by the removal Of
the local governor and the substitution
of a more energetic and friendly off,
cial in his place.
But Minister Leishman's efforts for
a favorable answer to the President a
message were met by evasive and
vague responses. His requests for an
audience passed unheeded. In a mat
ter like this concerning the friendly in
tercourse of two equal nations
through their executive heads, the
Presidents forbearance was sorelv
tried. AS the interests involved were
not personal but national the procras-
tination Of the Ottoman government
presented an aspect little short OF AN
Intentional indlgnlty 10 the American n
nation. and peremptory orders were
given 10 Minister Leishman 10 demand
an audience OF the Sultan and ask FOR
"a response 10 the Presidents message
OF Feb. q 1903.
The audience was az last accorded
on July o. 1904. Ills majesty prom
ised immediate consideration Of the
subject and nxed Tuesday, Aug. 2, as