When you were in Smyrna last, you may recall meeting two lawyers at this consulate who went over the case and its merits very thoroughly. I could not do less for Mr. Meimar under the circumstances, and at the same time everything was done in a quiet manner without sacrificing his rights or giving offense to the local authorities. I am somewhat surprised to find that the intervention of the legation has been sought. I have, etc., W. C. EMMET. No. 196.] Mr. Straus to Mr. Blaine. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, Constantinople, May 27, 1889. (Received June 11.) SIR: Referring to my dispatch, No. 187, of March 28, 1889, I have the honor to report: The American missionaries throughout the Ottoman Empire have frequently complained that the chief cause of interference by the local authorities with their schools arose from the fact that while they on their side complied with the requirements of the school regulations (Legislation Ottomane, Vol. III, p. 299) the local authorities refused or neglected to perform what the regulations required of them, and the result was frequently after they had submitted their text-books, the curriculum of studies, and the certificates of teachers, these were retained by the academical council, and the authority to open the schools was withheld. After the lapse of some months the governor-general would send an inspector to examine the certificate of teachers and the authority for the opening of the school. These, of course, could not be produced, as the academical council had not taken action upon them, nor returned them. Thereupon orders by the vali would frequently be given to close the schools that had not complied with the regulations aforesaid. The complaints of the missionaries are set forth in a recent letter, dated Beirut, Syria, April 9, 1889, from Rev. Dr. H. H. Jessup and Rev. George A. Ford on behalf of the Syrian mission of the American Presbyterian Church. A copy of so much as refers to this subject is inclosed. My own observations confirmed the statements in this letter, and that much trouble would be avoided if the local officials could be made to comply with their part of the school law, and that a degree of permanence for the schools could be assured if the permits provided for were delivered to the schools, thereby preventing them from being subject to the caprices and changes of local officials. On repeated occasions during the past twelve months I have presented the matter to the Porte, and insisted that orders should be given to remedy the evils complained of. On the 16th May instant a vizierial order was issued by the grand vizier, and has been forwarded to the governors-general of every vilayet wherein there are foreign schools. I succeeded in obtaining a copy, a translation whereof is inclosed. I have sent copies of this vizierial letter to the consul-general for transmission to our consul at Beirut and for the information of our missionaries. While considerable delay will doubtless attend the execution of the orders contained in this vizierial letter, yet it will, in the mean time, it is anticipated, enable the missionaries to protect themselves against the arbitrary acts of the local authorities in the several vilayets, and will, it is hoped, ultimately lessen the hindrances and obstructions to which American mission schools have constantly been subjected. I have, etc., O. S. STRAUS. [Inclosure 1 in No. 196.] Messrs. Jessup and Ford to Mr. Straus. [Extract.] SYRIA MISSION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN BOARD OF Beirut, Syria, April 9, 1889. DEAR SIR: The Syria Mission of the American Presbyterian Church would express its high appreciation of the able and efficient manner in which you have conducted the protracted negotiations with the Ottoman Government with reference to the status and the rights of American schools in this Empire. The ground thus gained is most important. We have furnished to the local authorities our course of study, the diplomas of our teachers, and a set of our books, according to art. 129, which also provides that the "governor-general and the academical council shall authorize" our schools after fulfilling these conditions. We claim that they should give us written permits for these schools, as otherwise we have absolutely nothing to show as evidence that we have fulfilled the conditions of the law. Local mudirs, kaimakams, and mutessarifs are requiring us to produce our “rukhas" or permits, maintaining that the failure to have such permits is evidence of the non-legality of our schools. We have, at great pains, done our part, and consider that we have the right to insist that the Government do its part. It is true that we have the recent orders of the Sultan's Government that our "schools shall not be interfered with, that the closed ones be re-opened, and complaints to be sent to the grand vizier" (your dispatch of March 16, 1889); but what we now deem pre-eminently necessary, in order to save further trouble, is that we secure permanence to the status of our schools. In view of this state of things, and of the fact that your thorough acquaintance with the whole subject gives you a great advantage in the matter, especially while so liberal a man as H. HI. Kamil Pacha is at the head of the Government, we have felt convinced that now is the time to push our request for orders to the valis of Beirut and Damascus, and to the mutessarif of Mount Lebanon, to give us official written permits for all our schools, as evidently implied and provided for in art. 129. HENRY H. JESSUP, Stated Clerk of American Mission. Of the Sidon and Zahleh Stations. [Inclosure 2 in No. 196.-Translation.] Vizierial circular addressed to the governors-general of the Empire, dated Ramazan 16, 1306 (May 16, 1889). The legation of the United States has made a complaint to the Porte, stating that whenever American schools are established, that while the authorities proceed to the examination of their programme (of studies) as well as the certificates of the teachers, yet no official permission in writing is granted, and the above-mentioned certificates are withheld by the authorities, and after a lapse of eight or ten years, when proceedings for the investigation for the condition of said schools are made, the said schools are closed, not because of any irregularity as regards the schools, but because the above-mentioned official permissions and the certificates of the teachers are not in their possession, and in consequence many inconveniences and difficulties are encountered in the effort to re-open the said schools. Although it is known that some of these schools are closed for legal reasons, it can not be admitted that long-established schools should be closed as long as their status and the manner in which they are conducted are not such as to render their closing necessary for being contrary to the established regulations. Consequently, you are instructed that whenever a new school is to be established, the formalities required by the special law having been complied with, the governor-general shall grant to the directors of the schools the official permission, and the certificates of the teachers, after being examined, shall be returned to the latter and left in their possession. As regards the old existing schools, whenever any reason for their closing exists, the facts should be reported to the ministry of the public instruction, and, in accordance with the answer thus given, action shall be taken. The same rule shall apply to the other foreign schools. No. 214.] Mr. Blaine to Mr. Straus. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, SIR: I desire to acknowledge the receipt of your dispatch No. 194, of the 10th instant, reporting that an imperial iradé had been issued for the erection of additional buildings for the use of Robert College at Constantinople, and to express the Department's pleasure at this intelligence. I am, etc., Mr. Blaine to Mr. Straus. JAMES G. BLAINE. No. 215.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, SIR: I have to acknowledge the receipt of your No. 195, of the 18th ultimo, concerning the protection of George Meimar, a naturalized citizen of Turkish origin, in whose case the Ottoman Government joins issue on the main question of recognition of his American citizenship on the ground that he has not received an imperial iradé permitting him to assume a foreign allegiance. The action of Mr. Emmet in behalf of Mr. Meimar is approved, and you are instructed to make energetic remonstrance against any action on the part of the Turkish Government tending in any manner to deny or abridge his just rights as such American citizen. I am, etc., JAMES G. BLAINE, No. 201.] Mr. Straus to Mr. Blaine. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES. Constantinople, June 13, 1889. (Received July 1.) SIR: On March 15, in my dispatch No. 178, I reported the action taken by me respecting several schools of the Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions which were closed in the district of Gawar, Vilayet of Van, on the Persian frontier. On the 10th instant I received the letter, of which the inclosed is a copy, from Rev. Henry O. Dwight, one of the agents of the American Bible house here at Constantinople, stating that Rev. Mr. Coan, of the Presbyterian Board, writing from Urmiah, Persia, under date of May 18, reports that the schools have been re-opened and are now proceeding satisfactorily. I have, etc., [Inclosure in No. 201.] O. S. STRAUS. Mr. Dwight to Mr. Straus. BIBLE HOUSE, Constantinople, June 10, 1889. DEAR SIR: Referring to previous communications from Dr. Cochrane, and also from myself, concerning certain schools of the Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions which were closed in the district of Gawar, near the Persian frontier, I have the pleasure to inform you that the Turkish Government has allowed these schools to be re-opened. Rev. Mr. Coan, of the above-named society, informs me from Urmiah, Persia, under date of 18th May, that the authorities in Gawar have removed the restrictions, and the schools are now proceeding satisfactorily. Mr. Coan desires me to thank you heartily for your kind efforts in behalf of these schools. Very respectfully, Mr. Blaine to Mr. Straus. HENRY O. DWIGHT. No. 217.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, SIR: I have to acknowledge the receipt of your No. 196, of May 27, 1889, concerning the vizerial letter to governors-general in Turkey respecting American schools. I desire to offer the Department's congratulations on the success which has so far crowned your efforts in dealing with this troublesome and vexatious question, and to express the hope that now many of the hardships which have surrounded the American schools there, through arbitrary local interference, may speedily disappear in the interest of a better and more satisfactory condition of affairs. I am, etc., JAMES G. BLAINE. No. 202.] Mr. Straus to Mr. Blaine. [Extract.] LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, Constantinople, June 17, 1889. (Received July 2.) SIR: In compliance with an invitation, I dined last evening with His Majesty the Sultan at Yildez Palace. Ilis Majesty conversed very freely at the table, and expressed great sympathy for the sufferers from the recent flood at Johnstown. He seemed to be conversant with the details of that accident, and stated that he would very much like to contribute to their relief. He asked if I would be the medium of transmitting such a sum as he might send ine. I replied to him that I surely would, and that I had no doubt it would be highly appreciated as a mark of his sympathy for the people in my country. I should state in this connection that these expressions on the part of the Sultan were entirely spontaneous, as no reference by me had been made regarding the disaster. His Majesty desired me personally to express his cordial greetings to the President of the United States, and also to inform him of the regret he felt at my departure. I have, etc., Mr. Blaine to Mr. Straus. [Telegram.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Express grateful appreciation President and Government United States for Sultan's generous relief flood sufferers. BLAINE. No. 33.] Mr. King to Mr. Blaine. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, Constantinople, October 12, 1889. (Received November 4.) SIR: I inclose for your consideration a copy (in translation) of a noteverbale received in February last from the Sublime Porte, regarding the military service of cavasses and dragomans employed by foreign consulates. (See Legislation Ottomane, Vol. IV, page 16.) No reply was made to the Sublime Porte, as this matter was to be considered in union with the other legations and embassies. The matter has received attention, and it has been admitted that the cavasses and dragomans are liable to this service; but there is ambiguity in the text of the regulation, and in my reply I have thought it well to make the reservation seen in the parenthesis. I inclose a copy of my proposed reply, which, if it meet your approval, I will send to the Porte. I have based it on the note verbale sent by the British embassy, but made it shorter and simpler without omitting (I think) any essential point. I have, etc., [Inclosure 1 in No. 33.-Translation.] The Sublime Porte to Mr. Straus. [Circular note-verbale.] PENDLETON King. MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, As Article V of the regulation relating to the foreign consulates leads sometimes to erroneous interpretations, the ministry of foreign affairs has the honor to beg of the legation of the United States of America kindly to inform the agents placed under its jurisdiction that the period of five years contemplated in that article having expired since the 23d of Safer, 1255, any Mussulman, dragoman, or cavass, whose character of privileged employé has been recognized by the local authorities after the above-mentioned date, is bound to take up his military service if his name has been drawn. As to the Christian employés, a distinction being made in practice between them and the Mussulman employés, the exoneration tax must be collected from the former on the same ground that the latter are subject to the conscription. But these two different applications of the law arise from an identical principle, and are equally obligatory. [Inclosure 2 in No. 33.] Proposed note-verbale from legation of the United States to Sublime Porte. In reply to the note-verbal of the Sublime Porte of February 3, 1889, concerning the military service of cavasses and dragomans employed in foreign consulates, the legation of the United States (omitting for the present the discussion of the differ |