No. 535.
Mr. Wallace to Mr. Frelinghuysen.
Constantinople, February 20, 1883. (Received March 13.)
Sir: I have the honor to report that the concession granted by the Sublime Porte to certain parties for the purpose of establishing a general [Page 835] depot for the storage of petroleum near this city has been suspended, and the status quo ante restored.
After presenting an unconditional protest to the concession, coupled with a demand that it should be withdrawn, and thus saving the record in our behalf, I called upon his highness the minister of foreign affairs, and satisfied myself that he could be moved to do justice in the matter. Then, as the first step, I asked him to suspend the execution of the concession, and supported the request with a statement that the measure was of importance to justify a more careful consideration upon the part of the Government than had evidently been given it. After the suspension, I said further, we could at leisure make an effort to effect an arrangement which might possibly prove satisfactory to all the parties concerned. The result is stated.
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I have, &c.,