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Sublime Porte from the beginning has been to make light of the visit of the United States squadron, and Mr. Leishman is strongly of the opinion that it would be a mistake to permit the squadron to depart before pending questions are settled and the demand for the removal of the governor at Beirut complied with.

Mr. Leishman states that if the Turkish Government finds the presence of the United States fleet objectionable they know an easy way of getting rid of it, and the more objectionable it proves the quicker they are likely to comply with the demands made of them.

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Mr. Leishman states that the Sublime Porte has been using every effort to create the impression that the troubles in Beirut are the result of the presence of the squadron instead of being merely the culmination of what has been going on for months.)

Mr. Leishman to Mr. Hay.

[Telegram.-Paraphrase.]

LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES,
Constantinople, September 10, 1903.

(Mr. Leishman states that Consul Ravndal reports that Beirut is quiet, but that many of the shops are still closed, as the people have not entirely recovered from their fright of last Sunday.)

Mr. Leishman to Mr. Hay.

No. 555.]

LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, Constantinople, September 10, 1903. SIR: As advised by wire I made the demand yesterday morning that the governor of Beirut be dismissed on the ground that it was deemed impossible to secure proper security for life and property of American citizens under his administration, and this evening the local journals publish articles announcing his dismissal.

The official organ merely announces the fact that Nazim Pasha, governor-general of Damascus, has temporarily taken over the administration at Beirut, but this is no doubt done with a view of preventing their own people as far as possible from learning that the old governor was dismissed through foreign interference.

The article referred to in the local papers can be regarded as semiofficial, as everyone here understands that articles referring to Government matters are always inspired, as otherwise no journal would venture to make any observations, as the press censorship is very close and rigid; and, besides, the minister for foreign affairs has confirmed

the dismissal.

Nazim Pasha, the new governor, is reputed to be a very capable man, and is the one that our people at Beirut desire, and, in fact, the great majority of the native population as well as the foreign elment desire his permanent appointment. From all reports he is an intelligent and well-educated man.

His promises to our consul to institute reforms and reorganize the police force indicate very plainly the necessity of changing the old governor, and I know that he has already reported the bad condition

of the city to headquarters and that the Porte was very much surprised to find that they had been so badly deceived and so badly informed, and I am sure that there is a secret rejoicing at the Porte over the dismissal of one whom everyone now recognizes as a very bad governor.

The President's action in this case will increase American prestige generally and particularly in the Beirut district, where we have a great many citizens and large educational interests, and my colleagues are rejoicing over the dismissal of a man that they have been endeavoring for months to have removed.

I am quietly but firmly pressing the minister for foreign affairs to adjust our school and other matters, and I think he is at last alive to the situation and is doing his best to settle the different questions without further delay.

I have, etc.,

JOHN G. A. LEISHMAN.

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LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES,
Constantinople, September 11, 1903.

(Mr. Leishman reports that the following proclamation has been published by the local papers:

By command of His Imperial Majesty the Sultan, Reshid Bey, governor-general of Beirut, has been dismissed. Nazim Pasha, governor-general of Damascus, has been appointed acting governor-general of Beirut.

Mr. Leishman states that the consul at Beirut reports that the situation is much better; that the new governor called very shortly after taking charge and stated with much earnestness his desire to arrange the Magelssen case promptly in a manner satisfactory to the American Government, expressing his intention to introduce reforms and promising to reorganize the entire police force. The new governor enjoys the reputation of being very capable, and the people of Beirut appear delighted with his nomination.)

Mr. Leishman to Mr. Hay.

[Telegram.-Paraphrase.]

LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES,
Constantinople, September 12, 1903.

(Mr. Leishman states that the consul at Beirut reports that confidence is being slowly restored; that he is confidentially informed that the report of the new governor to the Sublime Porte more than confirms the claims made by the consular body of bad and unsafe conditions of the city.

Mr. Leishman has received nothing from the Sublime Porte as yet in regard to pending questions except the usual promises.)

Mr. Leishman to Mr. Hay.

[Telegram.-Paraphrase.]

LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES,
Constantinople, September 14, 1903.

(Mr. Leishman states that the consul at Beirut reports that, owing to the vigorous action of the new governor-general, confidence is being gradually restored; that the chief of police and also the police officer who made the false report on the attempted assassination have been dismissed.)

Mr. Leishman to Mr. Hay.

[Telegram.-Paraphrase.]

LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES,
Constantinople, September 18, 1903.

(Mr. Leishman reports that the acting governor of Beirut has not been permanently appointed, and that Halel Pasha, governor of Broussa, has exchanged places with the dismissed governor of Beirut; that objections were made to Reshid Pasha being reappointed undersecretary of the interior, but no objection will be made to his appointment to Broussa.)

Mr. Adee to Mr. Leishman.

[Telegram.-Paraphrase.]

DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, September 24, 1903.

(Mr. Adee states that the removal of the governor of Beirut was all the United States Government asked, and commends Mr. Leishman's disinclination to oppose his appointment to Broussa.

Mr. Leishman to Mr. Hay.

[Telegram.-Paraphrase.]

LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES,
Constantinople, September 25, 1903.

(Mr. Leishman reports that matters at Beirut remain unsettled; that the consul goes so far as to state that further riots are not unlikely, and Mr. Leishman is half inclined to believe that the Turks are secretly glad to have the United States squadron remain, as it exerts a good

moral effect.

While strictly adhering to the noninterference policy in Turkish internal affairs, which the Department approved, Mr. Leishman has discreetly pointed out the danger of not having a proper governor at Beirut and the bad effect produced by the nomination of the dismissed

governor to another important post, and states that it is quite within the range of probabilities that the objectionable nominations will be withdrawn and the present acting governor at Beirut given a permanent appointment, which would strengthen his hands and largely assist in establishing peace and security.)

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Matters at Beirut appear to have assumed a normal condition. The city is quiet and in a much safer condition than it has been for months, and both the admiral and the consul, in reply to my inquiry, have advised that the presence of the squadron is no longer necessary to guarantee the safety of the American interests, so that I will feel at liberty to advise withdrawing the ships as soon as our questions are settled.

Of course, there are many people in Beirut who are not satisfied with the new governor or with the local administration, but this will always be the case as long as the Christians outnumber the Moslems three to one and are inspired by the desire to have Beirut attached to the Lebanon. This underlying source of trouble is apt to cause fresh outbreaks among the native population at any time, and my anxiety to get the ships away as soon as possible is stimulated by the knowledge of this possible complication.

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SIR: I beg to inclose herewith for your information copies of notes exchanged with the Sublime Porte in reference to the attempted assassination of Mr. Magelssen.

As the notes are self-explanatory, no further comment is necessary. I have, etc.,

JOHN G. A. LEISHMAN.

[Inclosure 1.-Translation.]

Notice.]

The Sublime Porte to Mr. Leishman.

SUBLIME PORTE, MINISTRY FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS, October 22, 1903.

The two individuals arrested on the charge of having fired shots while the United States vice-consul at Beirut was passing have been the recipients on this charge of an "ordonnance de non lieu" of the examining magistrate, this deed not having been proved; but they have been condemned by the tribunal to a term of imprisonment, to a fine, and to the costs for having broken the police regulations during a wedding.

Notice.]

[Inclosure 2.]

Mr. Leishman to the Sublime Porte.

LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES,
Constantinople, October 23, 1903.

In reply to the notice of the Imperial department for foreign affairs dated October 22, 1903, and informing this legation that the two individuals arrested on the charge of having shot at the United States vice-consul at Beirut have received from the inquiring magistrate an "ordonnance de non lieu," because the fact of their having shot at the vice-consul was not proved. The United States legation, supposing that said magistrate acted in a proper and upright manner, has the honor to take note of the sentence of the magistrate, and arrives at the conclusion that the real culprit or culprits were not arrested, and therefore has the honor to repeat its demand that the local authorities be instructed at once to use all means at their disposal to find the real culprit or culprits and punish them in conformity with law and justice.

Notice.]

[Inclosure 3.--Translation.]

The Sublime Porte to Mr. Leishman.

SUBLIME PORTE, MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, November 12, 1903. The ministry for foreign affairs has received the notice of the United States legation dated the 23d of October, concerning the shots fired while the United States viceconsul was passing through one of the streets of Beirut.

In answering, the Imperial ministry feels itself obliged to point out that the information contained in its notice of October 22 had been supplied by the Imperial authorities of Beirut from the judicial investigation carried out in conformity with the prescriptions of law. It goes without saying, nevertheless, that if a fresh investigation should establish the fact that there existed some culprits, these will be punished with all the rigors of the law.

Whatever may be the case, the Sublime Porte wishes to express to the United States legation its lively regrets for the incident in question which has given rise to such contradictory interpretations.

[Inclosure 4.]

Mr. Leishman to the Sublime Porte.

LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES,
Constantinople, November 13, 1903.

YOUR EXCELLENCY: I hasten to return the notice which the Sublime Porte addressed to the legation late last evening in reference to the attempt made against the life of the American vice-consul at Beirut.

This notice must have been forwarded in error as the circumstances demand a different reply, both in form and contents.

I take this occasion, etc.,

Mr. Leishman to Mr. Hay.

[Telegram.-Paraphrase.]

JOHN G. A. LEISHMAN.

LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES,
Constantinople, November 15, 1903.

(Mr. Leishman reports that he has returned a note from the Sublime Porte, relative to the Beirut trouble, which was most unsatisfactory in character, and has filed protest against the manner in which his complaints in reference to these troubles have been treated, including the promoting of the governor, dismissed on account of the action of the

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