Chargé Jay to the
Secretary of State.
American Legation,
Constantinople, March 30,
1906.
No. 1346.]
Sir: I have the honor to inclose copy of a
telegram received from the consul-general at Beirut stating that the new
governor-general of Damascus had closed the American school at Mahardeh
on the ground that it had no permit, copy of my telegraphic reply to the
consul-general, and copy of a note on this subject handed by me
personally to the minister for foreign affairs.
I have taken up the matter very vigorously and am in hopes that
telegraphic orders for the reopening of the school and stringent
instructions to prevent any repetition of this interference will be sent
[Page 1386] immediately (which on
account of the tremendous amount of red tape at the Sublime Porte means
four or five days).
I trust that this incident will be found to have merely been caused by
excess of zeal on the part of the recently appointed governor-general at
Damascus.
It is, however, thought possible by the legation that this school may
turn out to be one of the purely native Protestant institutions which,
as Mr. Leishman states in his dispatch No. 1275, of February 7, page 2,
are now admitted by the missionary representatives at Constantinople to
have been erroneously included in the long list of genuine American
institutions filed with the Porte.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure 1.]
Consul-General Bergholz to Chargé Jay.
[Telegram.]
American Consulate-General,
Beirut, Syria, March 28,
1906.
New governor-general at Damascus has closed school at Mahardeh,
district of Hama, because it has not permit. Have represented to him
that this school was established in 1882 and is protected from
closing by the grand vizier circular of May 16, 1889, and also
included in list accepted by Sublime Porte. Has refused to reopen
school without orders. Closing due to religious intrigue with
governor of Hama.
[Inclosure 2.]
Chargé Jay to
Consul-General Bergholz.
[Telegram.]
American Legation,
Constantinople, March 29, 1906.
Referring closing Mahardeh school matter has been actively taken up
with Porte, which promised to send telegraphic instructions to vali
to reopen school and not interfere with schools without special
orders from here, but it expressed doubts if it is genuine American
institution.
These instructions will probably not reach Vali for several days,
therefore please telegraph result Thursday.
[Inclosure 3.]
Chargé Jay to
the Minister for Foreign
Affairs.
American Legation,
Constantinople, March 29, 1906.
No. 688.]
Your Excellency: I have the honor to inform
your excellency that the American consul-general at Beirut
telegraphs that the newly appointed vali of Damascus has ordered the
closing of the American school in Mahardeh, Sand-jack of Hama, on
the plea that it has no permit, and that his orders have been
carried out, despite the representations of the consul-general.
I beg to inform your excellency that the school in question existed
years before the grand vizirial order of the 16th of Ramazan, 1306,
and the circular of the imperial department of the interior, dated
the 3d of May, 1308, and that it is included in the list of American
Institutions which this legation filed with the Sublime Porte in
February, 1903.
[Page 1387]
I beg to point out to your excellency that the unwarranted action of
the governor-general is contrary to the above-mentioned orders
issued by the Sublime Porte as the result of an agreement with this
legation, and to the understanding arrived at between the Sublime
Porte and this legation in 1904.
I have therefore to request your excellency to immediately cause
orders to be telegraphed for the reopening of this school and that
stringent instructions be sent to prevent any further interference
with existing American institutions.
I take, etc.,
