Mr. Leishman to Mr. Hay.
Constantinople, September 8, 1903.
Sir: * * * The troubles in Macedonia assume a wider range and more serious aspect each week, and everyone is fearful that the Turks who have so far been held in very good subjection will break loose and massacre the Bulgarian population.
Fortunately we have very few American citizens in Macedonia, mostly missionaries who are comparatively free from danger, as the Turks will use great care to protect them from harm, if from no higher reason than interested motives; and the Bulgarians will certainly not harm them. * * *
The Bulgarians are no doubt resorting to barbarous acts in order to goad the Turks into committing an overt act, such as a great massacre or entering Bulgarian territory, while the Turks, on the other hand, appreciating the fact that in either of these events the powers are apt to intervene, are calmly and patiently waiting, as in the Greek trouble, for the Bulgarians to openly espouse the insurrectionary movement in Macedonia and make the first break, when the Turkish troops would immediately be let loose, as they could do much more effective work on the plains between the frontier and Sofia than it would be possible for them to do in the mountainous district of Macedonia. I do not consider the situation here at present particularly alarming, but it is in that delicate condition that almost anything could happen, and consequently considerable uneasiness prevails.
I have, etc.,