File No. 10044/147.
Ambassador Leishman to the Secretary of State.
Pera, April 19, 1909.
Mr. Leishman says that Americans in Turkey, like all other foreigners, are in more or less danger because of the extraordinary conditions prevailing throughout the country, but that there is nothing to indicate any premeditated attack against them. He says the two Americans killed at Adana during the local disturbance there were shot while endeavoring to save the burning house of an old Turkish widow. Mr. Leishman says further that the central government is naturally not very strong on account of conditions, that the local governments in the Alexandretta and Adana districts are very feeble, with few troops at their command, but that the arrival of Italian, French, and English warships will no doubt have a salutary effect; that, as the European powers have already taken action, he does not see the necessity of sending ships, although the moral effect would be good. He adds that marines from foreign vessels have been landed to guard the different embassies and says it is to be regretted that the Scorpion was temporarily detailed for other duty, as times like the present show the need of keeping a guard ship at Constantinople.