Mr. Leishman to Mr. Hay.
Constantinople, August 7, 1902.
(Mr. Leishman reports that a number of matters on which the minister for foreign affairs had taken favorable action, and so officially notified him during the past few months, have been countermanded or annulled by the grand vizier, who has repeatedly declined to see Mr. Leishman, a courtesy which is always extended to even the dragomans of the embassies; that no personal feeling could possibly enter into the matter, as the grand vizier has been in office only a few months and Mr. Leishman has seen him but once, when he called to pay his respects and extend congratulations upon the grand vizier’s appointment.
In order to exhaust every effort Mr. Leishman again called this date (August 7) upon the grand vizier, but was again refused a reception. He then called upon the minister for foreign affairs and demanded an audience with the Sultan, at the same time requesting the minister to acquaint His Imperial Majesty with the nature of the business.
Mr. Leishman requests that, unless this audience with the Sultan is granted and not only the questions at issue but the principles involved in them are satisfactorily settled, he be given permission to demand his passports; and states that it would be worse than useless and derogatory to the dignity of the United States Government to continue relations with the Sublime Porte if, after weeks and even months of hard and patient work, business which has been fully settled with the minister for foreign affairs is to be rendered unavailing by the grand vizier’s conflicting and countermanding orders.)