Office of the Historian

No. 1059.
Mr. Straus to Mr. Bayard.

Legation of the United States,
Constantinople, January 5, 1888. (Received January 25.)
No. 52.]

Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your instruction No. 58 of December 7, 1887, with inclosure, concerning a report that the Russian Government is endeavoring to obtain an exclusive concession at Cairo and other Egyptian ports for the erection of tanks for petroleum. The result of the inquiries made at the Porte by Mr. Gargiulo, the dragoman of the legation, is that the Porte know of no such proposed [Page 1557] concession; and that, should the Egyptian Government intend giving such a concession, it is extremely doubtful whether the Porte’s authority would be asked.

The minister of foreign affairs stated that if I would address a note to the Porte, he would make it the basis of a communication to the Egyptian Government.

I have accordingly sent a note verbale to the Porte, of which the inclosed is a copy.

I have, etc.,

O. S. Straus.
[Inclosure in No. 52.]

The legation of the United States to the Ministry of foreign affairs.

Constantinople, January 4, 1887.

The legation of the United States has the honor to bring to the notice of the imperial ministry of foreign affairs that information has reached the Department of State that efforts are being made on the part of the Russian Government to obtain exclusive concession at Cairo and other ports in Egypt for the erection of tanks for the storage of petroleum. The Department of State has instructed the minister of the United States respectfully to represent to the Imperial Government that as petroleum is one of the chief products of export of the United States, the granting of such an exclusive privilege would interfere with that export, and with the business of American citizens in Egypt and in Turkey, who are engaged in the importation and sale of American petroleum.

Such information upon this subject as the imperial ministry of foreign affairs may have the kindness to communicate to this legation would be thankfully received, so that a report may be made to the Department of State.