Mr. Adee to Mr. Leishman.
Washington, August 7, 1901.
Sir: I have to acknowledge the receipt of your No. 60 of the 22d ultimo, with inclosed copy of a letter of the 17th ultimo from the British consul at Broussa, stating that the local authorities in places where American citizens are unrepresented contest the right of British agents to take charge of their interests and insist on Americans applying to them directly for any needed assistance.
With reference to your repeated suggestion as to the advisability of concerted action between British and American consulates throughout the Ottoman Empire, I have to say that the usual rule of this Department in authorizing one of its diplomatic or consular representatives abroad to take charge of the interests of unrepresented citizens or subjects of another nation, is to make acceptance of the friendly trust conditional on the acquiescence of the government or authority to which our agent is accredited. If the consent of the government of the country be necessary to enable one of our consuls to use his good offices in behalf of the citizens or subjects of another nation, it is expected that such consent will be sought, just as it is when our consul takes temporary charge of the affairs of a consulate of another country which may for any cause become vacant for the time being.
Inasmuch as the consul temporarily acting does not become the official representative of another government, recognition of his competency to exert his friendly offices does not involve application for or issuance of an exequatur, but merely the usual courteous acquiescence of the government of the country, followed by appropriate notification to its local officers.
You will communicate these views to your British colleague and confer with him further upon the subject.
I am, etc.,
Acting Secretary.