Mr. Leishman to Mr. Hay.
Constantinople, October 21, 1903.
Sir:
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Matters at Beirut appear to have assumed a normal condition. The city is quiet and in a much safer condition than it has been for months, and both the admiral and the consul, in reply to my inquiry, have advised that the presence of the squadron is no longer necessary to guarantee the safety of the American interests, so that I will feel at liberty to advise withdrawing the ships as soon as our questions are settled.
Of course, there are many people in Beirut who are not satisfied with the new governor or with the local administration, but this will always be the case as long as the Christians outnumber the Moslems three to one and are inspired by the desire to have Beirut attached to the Lebanon. This underlying source of trouble is apt to cause fresh outbreaks among the native population at any time, and my anxiety to get the ships away as soon as possible is stimulated by the knowledge of this possible complication.
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I have, etc.,