The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1904-07-29
LIVE WASHINGTON AFFAIRS
Pressure on Turkey.

President Roosevelt's patience has
been tried so severely by Turkey that
the opinion prevails in naval and di-
ploma,ic circles that the South Allan
tic Squadron will be ordered to Turk
ish waters early in August to back
up the demand of the United States
that the same rights be extended to
American citizens which British, Ger
man, Austrian and Italian subjects
enjoy in the land of the Sultan.
Through diplomatic correspondence
made public by the State Department
the perplexing nature of Oriental di-
plomacy is revealed. The department
published the letters which have pass
ed between Secretary Hay and United
States Minister Leishman, at Con-
stantinople, elating to two demands
which President Roosevelt made on
the Sultan These demands are that
both American citizens and institu-
tons be placed in the same class
with the people and institutions of
European nations, and that the Ameri-
can Protestant Medical College, at
Beirut, be granted the same privileges
accorded the French Medical School.
Minister Leishman states in mess
ages and letters that he has endeavor-
ed repeatedly to bring these requests
to the personal attention of the Sui
tan, but has rot been able to get an
audience with him without first being
pledged to say nothing concerning
business matters. The American Min
lister says the Sultan is willing to talk
with him about the weather and
other commonplace, but pleads that
he has no time to discuss the rights
of American citizens. At one time
Mr.. Leishman was kept waiting Tor
five hours. He says, however, that he
is not the only sufferer, as many
European ambassadors have been
forced to wait as long.
In one dispatch Mr.. Leishman said
that existing conditions had ceased
to furnish an excuse for prolonged
delay in settling pending questions;
that he had strained his instructions
and had ventured pretty close to a
threat that, unless the matters were
settled without further delay, some
thing unpleasant might happen Later
he informed the department that the
Sultan had taken a strong stand
against complying with the demands
of this Government relative to schools,
resting under the impression that no
forcible measures could be taken
without Congressional action.
1t is also stated that, pending the
arrival at Beirut of the American
squadron, which was sent at the time
of the attempt on the life of the
American consular officer. the Sultan
appeared to treat the expected ar
rival of the American warships as a
friendly visit. Later the State De-
partment advised Minister Leishrnan
that the Turkish Minister had in
formed the Secretary of State that the
Turkish Government considered the
presence of the American squadron
in Turkish waters at that time
cause for excitement, and asked its
withdrawal.
The Turkish Minister was informed
that the State Department did not
share that view, that the entire con-
sular body regarded it as protec-
ton; that the United States con-
sidered that its representations had
not received the friendly attention
it had right to expect. and that
compliance with the request for with
drawal, leaving all pending questions
unsettled and interests unprotected,
would have an unfortunate effect on
the relations of the two countries.
Leishman stated that the policy of
the Porte from the beginning had
been to make light of the visit of the
warships.