Mr. Seward to Mr. Hale.
Sir: Your dispatch of the 16th of December, No. 111, is before me. It furnishes the first information which has been directly received from Egypt concerning a change proposed there of the existing treaty arrangements between the western nations and the Ottoman Porte, and of the system of jurisprudence and adjudication in civil and criminal cases in which citizens and subjects of those nations are concerned. I give you herewith a copy of a communication relating to that subject which has been received, and of my acknowledgment thereof. The Grecian government has appealed to the United States to lend their influence in behalf of Greece, to prevent a consummation of the project. I have answered for the United States, that they will reserve consideration of the question until they shall have received some communication thereupon which shall have been authorized by either the Egyptian government or the Ottoman Porte.
In harmony with this line of policy, you will receive and refer to this department any propositions which the Egyptian government may desire to offer; and in that case, I shall expect to be furnished with such information as you may have concerning the progress of the discussion between the Egyptian government and the western powers, as well as your own opinions concerning the probable operation and results of such a change as the Egyptian government desires.
The United States, owing to their remoteness from Egypt, have less direct interest in the question than the European Christian powers. They have also, perhaps, more confidence in the safety and success of government reforms, even in those countries which have not been completely administered within the range of international law and established by Christian nations. On the other hand, it cannot be denied that the irritability and jealousy which inevitably exists between Christians and Jews on the one hand, and the local government or authorities of the Mohammedan states on the other, have been augmented by the war in Crete, and by disturbances in the Turkish provinces and states, to such a degree as to render amelioration of the general policy of Christian nations in regard to any one Mohammedan state very difficult, if not inexpedient, at the present time.
I am, sir, your obedient servant,
Charles Hale, Esq., &c., &c., &c.