Mr. Hay to Mr. Leishman.
Washington, February 2, 1903.
(Mr. Hay states that the attention of the President has recently been called, by a numerous delegation of prominent citizens, to the embarrassments of American educational and religious institutions in the Turkish Empire. He has personal knowledge from visits made to some of these institutions of their useful and disinterested work. He is assured that the American citizens conducting them are loyal to the Sultan and desire the peace and prosperity of his dominions.
The President directs that as soon as practicable Mr. Leishman will ask an audience of the Sultan, to deliver to him a personal message from the President of good will and assurances of his hearty desire to cultivate and maintain the most cordial relations of friendship; after which Mr. Leishman will say to His Majesty that he has been instructed by the President to bring in his name these embarrassments to the personal and direct attention of His Majesty, with the full assurance that he will cause the proper steps to be taken to remedy them.
What the President desires and expects is, first, that the Sultan will grant to Ameriean citizens and institutions the same guarantees and privileges given to France in November, 1901, and which have since been conceded to Russia, Germany, and Italy. He can not believe, in view of treaty stipulations and international comity, that the Sultan will refuse to the United States the treatment extended to the nations named. Second, he asks that the same treatment be extended to the Protestant Medical College at Beirut respecting examinations and right of graduates to exercise their profession as is now extended to the French medical school at Beirut. He does not see such material difference in the schools as to warrant the discrimination practiced. The difference is chiefly in the system of government of France and the United States. The Protestant College has official authorization from and supervision of the State of New York, from which it received its charter, and should be regarded as a national institution as much as the French school.
The President is deeply in earnest in this matter, and while Mr. Leishman will approach the Sultan in the utmost spirit of friendship and good will, he will impress upon him the fixed desire and expectation of the President that this country and its citizens will be treated on the same terms as the most favored nation, and especially that the two objects noted will be promptly secured.
The President relies upon Mr. Leishman’s discretion and diligence to obtain favorable action.)