This note, although dated November 2, was practically only delivered last
night, as I had agreed to withdraw it in case all our matters were
satisfactorily adjusted and proper apologies made in the Beirut affair,
the minister for foreign affairs having begged me to hold off from day
to day, hoping to be able to induce the Sultan to issue the necessary
imperial irade.
This he has failed to do, and from the best information obtainable is not
likely to succeed even if further delay were granted, and consequently I
was forced to the conclusion that the time had come for more forcible
action.
[Inclosure.]
Mr. Leishman to
the Sublime Porte.
Legation of the United States,
Constantinople, November 2, 1903.
Your Excellency: I can not refrain from
expressing my surprise at the continued light and trifling manner in
which the murderous attack upon the American vice-consul at Beirut
is being treated, as evidenced in a recent communication of the
governor at Beirut to the American consul at that point.
I have formally to complain that, although the attempted
assassination occurred over two months ago, the would be murderer or
murderers have not yet been arrested, nor are they likely to be, as
long as the local authorities continue to pursue the unfounded
theories advanced by the former governor, that the shooting was done
by a party of wedding guests, who were merely firing their guns in
the air in sportive way without any evil intention.
A similar complaint must also be lodged against the reports that have
been so actively circulated by the local officials, denying the fact
of the insecurity and misgovernment of the city under the old
régime.
The Government of the United States can not afford to allow these
statements to go unchallenged, and is quite prepared to defend its
claim that the attack upon Mr. Magelssen was clearly a deliberate
attempt at murder, and that the condition of the city of Beirut for
many months was in a state of insecurity and the local
administratration both inefficient and bad, and that, despite the
denials, this fact was well known, and that numerous complaints of
the bad and insecure condition had been filed by the other consuls
and also transmitted to the Sublime Porte through the several
embassies.
[Page 786]
The mere fact of Rechid Bey having been recalled can not be looked
upon for a moment as proper redress, for it can only be considered
as nominal in view of the fact that instead of being dismissed he
was actually promoted to a larger and more important vilayet,
besides being complimented for his previous services.
Such action can only be regarded as discourteous treatment to my
Government, and I am satisfied that when the real facts are
submitted to His Imperial Majesty the slight will be immediately
remedied by the prompt and permanent dismissal of Rechid Bey, whose
maladministration of Beirut reduced the city to such a deplorable
and insecure condition that the United States Government, in order
to secure proper protection for the lives and property of American
citizens, was forced to demand the dismissal and punishment of the
man who was primarily responsible for such conditions.
I therefore beg your excellency to bring the above facts to the
attention of His Imperial Majesty the Sultan, in which case I assume
confidently that the just demands of the United States Government
will be fully satisfied.
I take, etc.,
