Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-08-16
VICTORY IS
COMPLETE,
STATE DEPARTMENT ExuLrs
OVER THE OUTCOME OF
TURKISH DIFFICULTY.
HISTORY OF THE CASE
Story Of the Disagreement That Arose
Between the Two Governments over
Turkeys Discrimination Against
American Schools.


Turkeys Discrimination Against
American Schools.
Washington, D. c., Aug. Is. - Rear
Admiral Jewell, commanding the
American European squadron, today,
cabled the navy department announc-
Ing the departure of his command
from Smyrna for Gibraltar.
School Question Settled.
Constantinople, Aug. Is. = After
prolonged pourparlers and consider
able haggling on the part Of the Turks
satisfactory solution of the Ameri-
can school question has been arrived
at. This matter, which is the most
important of the Washington demands
was settled by extending to American
institutions the same treatment as
that accorded to schools under the
protection Of other powers.
Other Matters Arranged.
A settlement of other matters af-
fecting American interests in Turkey
has also been effected and Minister
Leishman Sunday telegraphed to Rear
Admiral Jewell. in command of the
United States squadron sent to Smyr-
ma, instructing him to salute the bat
teries on land and depart.
The sitting Of the council of minis
ters at which the settlement was
agreed upon was long one and it
vas not until near its close that an
agreement was reached The delay
in the settlement is believed to have
been caused by the Intervention of the
palace functionaries, whose policy in
order to retain the sultan's favor, con-
sists of combating the rights and priv
ileges of foreign subjects.
Americans Continually Sighted.
Washington, D. c., Aug. 15.-The
Associated Press has received from
prominent official of the department
of state the following statement Of the
pending questions with Turkey and
the steps toward their adjustment:
For many years the treatment Of
educational establishments in the Otto
man empire founded and conducted by
American citizens has been very un-
satisfactory. While similar schools un-
der the direction of other foreigners
have been recognized as existing, and
have been accorded the regular H.
cense, application on behalf of those
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 Turk.
ish government. Difficulties and OBJ
structions have constantly been put in
the way of the American teachers.
President lntervenes.
"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, and no progress hav-
ing been made toward better under
standing, the President took the mat
ter in hand, and on Feb. Q, 1903 ca
bled to Minister Leishman directing
him to ask an audience of the sultan,
in order to bring to the personal and
direct attention of LIS majesty the EN-.
barrassments and grievances under
which this government and its citizens
labor
"Mr. Leishman's request for an audi.
ence was met with much evasion and
delay. Two months passed. in the
course of which one of the grounds of
complaint was removed by the issu-
ance of an trade for the examination
Of the students at the medical school
at Beirut 1t was not until April 3
that Mr.. Leishman was enabled to de.
liver the Presidents message in per
sonal audience to the sultan His ma
jesty was pleased to promise immedi-
ate consideration to the requests there.
in conveyed
No progress whatever was made
during the next four months toward
the settlement of the questions at is.
sue, and the Presidents message still
remained unanswered, notwithstand.
ing Mr.. Leishman's repeated and ur.
gent repres entations.
'sIn the summer of 1903 the renort
OF the attempted assassination of the
American vice consul at Beirut led to
the visit OF the American Mediterran-
can squadron to that port to inyesti-
gate. Its presence was opportune. The
notorious insecurity of foreign life and
property at Beirut was remedied by the
removal of the local governor and the
substitution of more energetic and
friendly officer in his place. The i'm
mediate object having been accomplish
ed, the squadron withdrew the last of
January, 1904.
"In the meantime Mr.. Leishman's
endeeavors to advance a settlement of
the general questions at issue were I'M
availing. Again and again he pressed
for a favorable answer to the message
and as often was met by evasive and
vague responses. The Presidents for.
(Cant;n;;cfI az, PageaN