Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-08-15
The Issues Officially Stated.

eign subjects.
The Issues Officially Stated
An official statement regarding the issues
between the United States and Turkey has
been issued by the State Department as
follows:
For many years the treatment of edu-
catlonal establishments In the Ottoman en-
pire. founded and conducted by American
citizens has been very unsa tiSf &C Dry.
While similar schools. under the direction
OF other foreigners, have b-en recog lized
as existing. and have been accorded the
regular license or imperial frnan upon APP
plication therefor. applications behalf
of the schools under American control have
passed unnoticed. Temporary permits OBJ
tained from the local authorities have been
hedged in with restrictions and have not
infrequently been ignored by the Turkish
government. Difficulties and instructions
have constantly been put In the way of
the American teachers. In marked contrast
TO the favor shown the schools of other
natIonaities and in contraventon of the
rights of American citizens In Turkey to
the most favored treatment accorded to the
citizens or subjects of other states. This
discrimination was especially noticeable
with regard 10 the Protestant Medical Col
lege at Beirut In the matter of examina-
lions and the right of graduates to exer-
else their profession. The United States
government claimed for the American
school the same privileges accorded the
French medical school at Beirut No such
material difference was seen in the schools
as to warrant the discrimination practiced,
the difference being chilly In the system of
government OF France and the United
States The Protestant Medical College,
holding official authorization from, and
having the supervision OF the state of New
York from which 1t derived It's charter was
entitled to be regarded as a national insti-
tuition as much as the French school.
Appealed to the Sultan.
'The earnest efforts of the American min
lister at Constantinople to secure for our
schools and teachers the simple equality of
treatment to which they are entitled. hav-
Ing met with evasive and dilatory treatmen:
by the sublime porte. and no progress hav
ing been made toward better understand
ing. the President took the matter in hand,
and, on February ., 1903, cabled to Minister
Leishman directing him to ask an audience
of the sultan. In order to deliver to him
personal message from the President of
good will and assurances OF his hearty de-
sire to cultivate and maintain the most cor
dial relations of friendship, and to bring to
the personal and direct attention of his
majesty the endorsements and griev
ances under which this government and Its
citizens labor, with expression of the Presi-
dents desire and expectation that the treat
ment of the most favored nation would be
received and the claim of our colleges and
schools to equal treaty rights would be
promptly recognized
Mr.. Leishmans request Tor an audience
was met with much evasion and delay.
Two months passed, In the course of which
one of the grounds of complaint was re-
moved by the issuance of an Trade for the
examination of the students at the medical
schools at Beirut. 1t was not until April 3
that Mr.. Leishman was enabled to deliver
the Presidents message in personal au-
dience of the sultan. His majesty was
pleased to promise immediate considera-
ton to the requests therein conveyed
mo progress whatever was made during
the next four months toward the settle
ment of the questions at Issue, and the
Presidents message still remained unan-
swered. notwithstanding Mr. Leishmans
repeated and urgent representations
"In the summer of 1903 the report Of the
attempted assassination of the American
vice consul at Beirut led 10 the visit of the
American Mediterranean squadron to that
port TO investigate the circumstances. Its
presence was opportune. The notorious in
security OF foreign life and property at
Beirut was remedied by the removal of the
local governor and the substitution or
more energetic and friendly officer In his
place the immediate object having been
accomplished, the squadron withdrew the
last of January, 1904
Met With Evasion.
"In the meantime Mr.. Leishman's en-
deavors to advance settlement of the
general questions at issue were unavaiing.
the porte being apparently unwilling to
meet the Presidents requests during the
presence OF the American feet In Turkish
waters. Its withdrawal however. did not
hasten matters. Again and again Minister
Leishman pressed for a favorable answer to
the Presidents message. and as often was
met by evasive and vague responses His
requests for audience passed UNDECIDED.
In matter like this. concerning the friend
Iy intercourse of two equal nations through
their executive heads. the Presidents for
bearance was sorely tried. AS the interests
involved were not personal. but national
the procrastination OF the Ottoman govern
ment wore aspect little short OF an In
territorial indignity TO the American nation
1t became an imperative duty to bring this
phase OF the matter TO a speedy close, and
peremptory orders were given to Minister
Leishman to demand an audience of the
sultan and ask for response TO the Presi-
dents message Of February 2 1903.
The audience was at last accorded on
July 20 1904. His majesty promised imme-
diate consideration OF the subject. and fixed
Tuesday. August 2. as the time when def
mite response would be given to Mr.. Leish-
man by his majesty. The date then fixed
was postponed TO Thursday. but Thurs
day Mr. Leishman telesraphed that the
promised reply had not been received.
."Thereupon the President directed that
the Mediterranean squadron, then at Vile
franche. near Nice should proceed TO Smyr-
ma. In order that, II the sultan's reply
prove unfavorable, the minister might be
received board with the courtesy due
to his high Office and conveyed to some con-
venient place. while Mr.. Leishman was in
structed to press again for an immediate
answer. falling which he was to depart on
indefinite leave of absence and repair on
board the flagship. He was especially
charged to endeavor to reach a satisfactory
assurance of settlement before the arrival
of the feet at Smyrna, in order that its
visit might be one Of friendly courtesy be-
hitting the good understanding or the two
governments.
The Sultan's Response.
1.-THE feet. which was expected to ar
rive at Smyrna on the morning of Thurs
day. the nth. did not reach port until the