Mr. Leishman to Mr.
Hay.
Legation of the United States,
Constantinople, July 8,
1901.
No. 56.]
Sir: Referring further to my dispatch No. 53 of
July 5, I beg to advise that the trouble in regard to the Rev. Mr. Cole
at Bitlis has been satisfactorily adjusted, and herewith I inclose copy
of correspondence which will explain the matter more fully.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure 1.]
Mr. Leishman to
the minister for foreign
affairs.
Legation of the United States,
Constantinople, June 24, 1901.
Excellency: I beg to call your excellency’s
attention to the fact that as yet I have not received any reply to
my note No. 17 of June 12, in which I brought to your excellency’s
notice the case of the Rev. R. M. Cole, a native American citizen,
residing as missionary in charge of schools in the vilayet of
Bitlis, owing to the local governor, who claims to be acting under
general instructions from Constantinople, refusing to grant him the
usual teskéré.
[Page 526]
While desirous to have all our citizens comply with local police
regulations and customs whenever that courtesy does not establish a
bad precedent or interfere with the rights guaranteed them, I can
not permit the Rev. Mr. Cole or any of our citizens to be
practically treated as prisoners and prevented from traveling freely
while in pursuit of their peaceful avocation, and consequently I
feel constrained to advise your excellency that unless I am in
receipt of written advices on or before the 30th day of June next
advising me that proper instructions have been sent to the local
governor of Bitlis, and that the customary traveling passport or
teskéré has been issued to the Rev. R. M. Cole, I shall be compelled
to instruct Mr. Cole to travel wherever his duties may take him on
his American passport, and in this event I shall not only hold the
Imperial Ottoman Government responsible for his safety and good
treatment, but also strictly accountable for any indignity, delay,
or trouble he may experience.
Accept, etc.,
[Inclosure 2.]
Mr. Leishman to
Mr. Cole.
Legation of the United States,
Constantinople, July 6, 1901.
Dear Sir: I herewith inclose copy of two
telegrams which I sent you on the 1st and 4th instant, respectively,
to which I have not as yet received any reply.
I trust the delay is not the fault of an attempt to delay matters. I
am investigating through the telegraph bureau, and if necessary will
bring the case to the attention of the Porte, as I am determined not
to permit your freedom to be interfered with, and certainly have no
intention of sitting quietly and allowing any American who is
pursuing his peaceful avocation to be molested or interfered with in
any way.
Awaiting your advices, I am, etc.,
[Subinclosure.]
Mr. Leishman to
Mr. Cole.
[Telegram sent in
Turkish.—Translation.]
Legation of the United States,
Constantinople, July 1, 1901.
I am informed that instructions have been sent to governor of Bitlis
to furnish you with a traveling teskéré, and, should you find it
necessary or desirable, to also provide you with a guard. Please
advise whether everything has been arranged to your entire
satisfaction.
