Chargé Jay to the
Secretary of State.
[Extract.]
American Legation,
Constantinople, May 17,
1906.
No. 1393.]
Sir: Referring to my dispatch, No. 1360, of
April, 1906, on the subject of the difficulties in connection with the
American school at Caesarea, I have the honor to inclose copy of a
telegram received by me yesterday from Doctor Wingate, the director of
the school, stating that the local authorities have threatened to seize
the school property by force.
I inclose also copy of a note upon this subject handed by me to-day
personally to the minister for foreign affairs.
In interviews which I have had to-day with the grand vizier and the
minister for foreign affairs, they both denied that any orders have been
sent to seize the school property, and assured me that the entire matter
will be given careful attention.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure 1.]
Mr. Wingate to
Chargé Jay.
[Telegram.]
Talas, Cesarea, May
16, 1906.
Referring to my letter of May 6 to Mr. Peet: Yesterday, under pretext
that they had received orders from Constantinople for a second time,
they (the authorities) declared that they will deposit with the
Ottoman Bank the equivalent of the value of the propery and our
expenses and seize by force. I replied hat without receiving orders
from the minister or from our society we can give no reply. Whatever
may happen afterwards I will inform by telegraph.
[Inclosure 2.]
Chargé Jay to
the Minister for Foreign
Affairs.
American Legation,
Constantinople, May
17, 1906.
No. 715.]
Your Excellency: I have the honor to
confirm my note of the 19th of April, No. 700, in regard to the
correction of titles and to the construction of the Boys’ American
School and director’s residence in Talas Cæsarea.
[Page 1392]
I had the honor to inform your excellency that the director of the
school had reported that the local authorities were stopping the
work of construction and intimidating the workmen. I had therefore
requested your excellency to cause telegraphic instructions to be
sent directing the authorities to refrain from any further
interference.
I now much regret to have to inform your excellency that I have
received another telegram from the director of the school, dated May
13, 1906, and delivered to this legation on the 16th of May, 1906,
whereby he states that the local authorities, under pretense of
acting in conformity with orders from Constantinople, have told him
that they will deposit the equivalent of the value of the property
and of the building material in the Imperial Ottoman Bank and will
seize by force the said property. I beg to inclose a copy of the
above-mentioned telegram.
This legation can not believe for a moment that the Sublime Porte has
contemplated such unwarrantable action on the part of the local
authorities, as I need not point out to your excellency that the
most serious consequences might result from the seizure by force of
American mission property.
I find myself, nevertheless, obliged to confirm the notes of this
legation of the 5th of February and 19th of April last, numbered
respectively 649 and 700, and once more to request your excellency
to kindly cause telegraphic orders to be sent to the authorities at
Cæsarea to cease interfering with the construction of the buildings
in question.
I take, etc.,
