Mr. Leishman to Mr.
Hay.
Legation of the United States,
Constantinople, November 13,
1903.
No. 630.]
Sir: I beg to inclose herewith for your
information copies of notes exchanged with the Sublime Porte in
reference to the attempted assassination of Mr. Magelssen.
As the notes are self-explanatory, no further comment is necessary.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure
1.—Translation.]
The Sublime Porte to
Mr. Leishman.
Sublime Porte,
Ministry for Foreign
Affairs,
October 22,
1903.
Notice.]
The two individuals arrested on the charge of having fired shots
while the United States vice-consul at Beirut was passing have been
the recipients on this charge of an “ordonnance de non lieu” of the
examining magistrate, this deed not having been proved; but they
have been condemned by the tribunal to a term of imprisonment, to a
fine, and to the costs for having broken the police regulations
during a wedding.
[Page 784]
[Inclosure 2.]
Mr. Leishman to
the Sublime Porte.
Legation of the United States,
Constantinople, October 23, 1903.
Notice.]
In reply to the notice of the Imperial department for foreign affairs
dated October 22, 1903, and informing this legation that the two
individuals arrested on the charge of having shot at the United
States Vice-consul at Beirut have received from the inquiring
magistrate an “ordonnance de non lieu,” because the fact of their
having shot at the vice-consul was not proved. The United States
legation, supposing that said magistrate acted in a proper and
upright manner, has the honor to take note of the sentence of the
magistrate, and arrives at the conclusion that the real culprit or
culprits were not arrested, and therefore has the honor to repeat
its demand that the local authorities be instructed at once to use
all means at their disposal to find the real culprit or culprits and
punish them in conformity with law and justice.
[Inclosure
3.—Translation.]
The Sublime Porte to
Mr. Leishman.
Sublime Porte, Ministry of Foreign
Affairs,
November 12,
1903.
Notice.]
The ministry for foreign affairs has received the notice of the
United States legation dated the 23d of October, concerning the
shots fired while the United States vice-consul was passing through
one of the streets of Beirut.
In answering, the Imperial ministry feels itself obliged to point out
that the information contained in its notice of October 22 had been
supplied by the Imperial authorities of Beirut from the judicial
investigation carried out in conformity with the prescriptions of
law. It goes without saying, nevertheless, that if a fresh
investigation should establish the fact that there existed some
culprits, these will be punished with all the rigors of the law.
Whatever may be the case, the Sublime Porte wishes to express to the
United States legation its lively regrets for the incident in
question which has given rise to such contradictory
interpretations.
[Inclosure 4.]
Mr. Leishman to
the Sublime Porte.
Legation of the United States,
Constantinople, November 13, 1903.
Your Excellency: I hasten to return the
notice which the Sublime Porte addressed to the legation late last
evening in reference to the attempt made against the life of the
American vice-consul at Beirut.
This notice must have been forwarded in error as the circumstances
demand a different reply, both in form and contents.
I take this occasion, etc.,
