Mr. Leishman to Mr. Hay.
Constantinople, March 1, 1903.
(Mr. Leishman reports that his first formal demand for audience with the Sultan was made in writing on February 16 and a note sent on February 24 asking for a reply. Upon receipt of Mr. Hay’s telegram of February 25 Mr. Leishman personally called the attention of the minister for foreign affairs to the gravity of failure to comply, but did not mention the question of procedure, merely maintaining the position assumed from the beginning, that his right to demand an audience to deliver a personal message from the President was unquestionable, which right has not been questioned by the Porte, nor has Mr. Leishman any reason to believe that it will be.
Mr. Leishman does not believe that any disrespect is intended, but that the delay is merely due to Turkish methods; that they read the message, which was sent open, and his opinion is that an effort is being made to defer the audience until after matters are adjusted with the hope that the audience will not be insisted upon and even if the demand is adhered to that only the complimentary part of the message will be presented with added thanks for favors granted.
The minister for foreign affairs is always most polite in stating that a reply from the palace has not yet been received.)