Minister Leishman
to the Secretary of State
.
[Extract.]
American Legation,
Constantinople
,
February 2,
1906.
No. 1269.]
Sir: I have to acknowledge the receipt of your
dispatch No. 960 of December 23, 1905, on the subject of customs
immunities for the American religious, educational, and charitable
institutions in the Beirut consular district.
In reply I beg to inclose copy of recent correspondence exchanged with
the consul-general at Beirut upon this subject, from which you will
observe that the trouble complained of has been partially settled.
The arrangement effected is not as satisfactory as I had hoped to report,
and certainly not commensurate with the amount of time and patience that
has been expended upon this question, but it is a beginning, and as the
Porte has substantially acknowledged our right in principle by
recognizing the medical college as being entitled to the customs
immunities, it is reasonable to suppose that the others will follow, and
the fact that the customs authorities have been instructed to accept
payment from other institutions on deposit, a privilege which has
heretofore been refused, will greatly facilitate the efforts of the
legation in securing the refunding of the money that may be found to
have been improperly collected.
The greatest difficulty encountered has been on account of the dispute
over the list which was furnished by the Presbyterian mission in Syria,
the Porte claiming that quite a number of the schools included in the
list as being American are really nothing more than native Protestant
schools under the patronage of the American mission, and that a number
of the schools mentioned have been closed for a number of years.
I have, etc., etc.,
[Page 1379]
[Inclosure 1.]
Minister Leishman to Consul-General Bergholz
.
[Telegram.]
American Legation,
Constantinople
,
January 17, 1906
.
Instructions allowing customs exemptions in favor of Beirut College
mailed this week to director in Beirut under No. 693. Am urging
Porte for more general orders in favor of all bona fide American
institutions in Syria which are entitled to exemption. Insist that
director allow American institutions other than college
conditionally deposit custom duty, pending receipt of more general
orders which the Porte has promised to forward.
[Inclosure 2.]
Minister Leishman to Consul-General Bergholz
.
[Telegram.]
American Legation,
Constantinople
,
January 16, 1906
.
Telegraphic orders were sent yesterday to Director Customs Beirut
instructing that official to accept customs dues on deposit until
further notice.
[Inclosure 3.]
Consul-General Bergholz to Minister Leishman
.
[Telegram.]
American Consulate-General,
Beirut, Syria
,
January 31,
1906
.
Instructions under No. 693 to director customs grants customs
immunities to medical department of college only. Substance is as
follows: “Inasmuch as the Sublime Porte sends annually a medical
commission to examine the medical department of the American
College, the Sublime Porte recognizes that department, and you are
hereby authorized to allow said medical department the customs
immunities.” Other departments of the college and the mission will
pay duty on deposit.
[Inclosure 4.]
Consul-General Bergholz to Minister Leishman
.
American Consulate-General,
Beirut, Syria
,
January 18,
1906
.
No. 41.]
Sir: I have the honor to confirm your
telegram of yesterday’s datea and my reply of to-day as follows:
Beirut, January 18, 1906.
American Minister,
Constantinople:
College delighted and expresses hearty appreciation of your
efforts. Will telegraph you on receipt of the instructions
by director.
Bergholz.
The college, as well as the mission, was overjoyed at learning of
your successful efforts in obtaining a recognition of the customs
immunities for the college, [Page 1380] withheld from the educational and religious
establishments at Beirut since 1899, and the acting president, Rev.
Daniel Bliss, begged me to convey to you his warmest thanks for, and
appreciation of, your efforts in behalf of American institutions in
Syria.
I shall not fail to carry out your instructions to insist that the
director of customs permit the mission, and such bona fide American
institutions as are under its direction, conditionally to deposit
duty pending the receipt of more general orders, which, as you
advise me, the Sublime Porte has promised to send the Nazir
here.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure 5.]
Consul-General Bergholz to Minister Leishman
.
American Consulate-General,
Beirut, Syria
,
January 24,
1906
.
No. 42.]
Sir: I have the honor to confirm your
telegram of the 18th instant as follows:a
The receipt of the instructions is admitted by the director.
I need not tell you that the receipt of your two telegrams caused
much rejoicing among the American colony, which is loud in
expressing its great satisfaction at the recognition of these
institutions by the Porte.
May I be permitted to add my congratulations upon the success which
has crowned your efforts?
I have, etc.,
