The Bourbon news., 1904-08-16
GRANTS OUR REQUEST.
Sultan of Turkey Yields to the
Demand Of United States.
The American Schools in the Ottoman
Empire Accorded the Same Treat
ment as That Given Schools
of Other Nations.

Constantinople, Aug. 15.-After pro-
longed pour parlous and considerable
haggling on the part of the Turks, a
satisfactory solution of the American
school question has been arrived at
This matter, which is the most impor-
tant of the American demands, was
settled by extending to American
schools the same treatment as that
accorded to schools under the protec-
tion of other powers.
A settlement of other matters affect
ing American interests in Turkey Of
secondary Importance has also been
affected and Minister Leishman has
telegraphed to RI Adm. Jowett, in
command of the United States squad
ron sent to Smyrna, instructing him
to salute the batteries on land and
depart.
The sitting of the council of minis
ters at which the settlement was
agreed upon was long one and it
was not until near it's close that an
agreement was reached. The delay
in the settlement is belived to have
been caused by the Intervention of
the palace functionaries, whose pol
icy, in order to retain the sultan's fa-
vor, consists of combating the rights
and privileges of foreign subjects.
Washington, Aug. 15.-The United
States war vessels now at Smyrna un-
der command of Rr Adm Jewell are
the Cleveland, the Olympia and the
Baltimore. They left Smyrna Mon
day and will sail for Gibraltar The
ships comprise what is known as the
American European squadron and will
continue their cruise in European wa
ters for some time
For many years the treatment of ed
ucational establishments in the Otto
man empire founded and conducted
by American citizens, has been very
unsatisfactory. While similar schools
under the direction of other foreign
ers have been recognized as existing
and have been accorded the regular
license or imperial frman on applica-
tion therefor, applications on behalf
of the schools under American con
troll have passed unnoticed Tempo
rary permits obtained from the local
authorities have been held within re-
striction and have not infrequently
been ignored by the Turkish govern
ment. Difficulties and distractions
have constantly been put in the way
of the American teachers, in marked
contrast to the favor shown the
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.
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 were entitled have met with eva
sive and dilatory treatment by the
sublime porte, and no progress having
been made toward a better under
standing the president took the mat
ter in hand. and on February 2, 1903,
cabled Minister Leishman directing
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 de-
sire to cultivate and maintain the
most cordial relations of friendship,
and to bring to the personal and direct
attention of his majesty the embar-
easements and grievances under which
this government and its citizens labor,
with expression of the presidents de-
sire and expectation that the treat
ment of the most favored nation would
be received and the claim of our col
leges and schools to equal treaty
rights would be promptly recognized.
The request met with evasion and
delay since then and the American
government a few days ago ordered
United States vessels to Smyrna
This action brought the sultan to
terms and the questions were prompt
ly settled.