Office of the Historian

Mr. Leishman to Mr. Hay.

Legation of the United States,
Constantinople, November 28, 1903.
No. 644.]

Sir: As the trouble in Macedonia appears to have quieted down, with little prospect of any fresh outbreak before spring, if then, I have [Page 768] felt warranted in dispensing with the extra guards for the present, as the situation here for the moment is about normal.

I have, however, retained the two men at the entrance to the legation inclosure as they are really needed at all times as gate keepers as well as guards. This I consider most desirable if not actually necessary.

All of the foreign embassies now have guards as well as the men at the gates, and the Germans have recently gone so far as to establish a permanent guard in addition to the marines on the stationaire, having erected a small barrack in the embassy inclosure for a special guard sent out by the Government, consisting of a commissioned officer and 12 marines.

Although the Sultan has accepted the demands of the European powers in principle, the acceptance was couched in such a skillful way and with such material reservations as to practically render it worthless, although it will no doubt lead to the establishment of better government in Macedonia, but without robbing the Turk of his sovereign power.

* * * * * * *

I have, etc.,

John G. A. Leishman.
[Inclosure 1.]

The nine articles contained in the Austro-Russian demands.

The Austro Russian instructions to Baron Calice and M. Zinoview in regard to reforms in Macedonia were issued here last evening in the shape of a telegram from Constantinople. They contain nine points and run as follows:

1.
In order to establish control over the activity of the Ottoman local authorities in regard to the application of reforms, special Austro-Hungarian and Russian civil agents are to be appointed to accompany the inspector-general everywhere, to direct his attention to the needs of the Christian population, to report to him the abuses of the local authorities, to transmit corresponding proposals to the ambassadors in Constantinople, and to report to their Governments on everything that happens in the country. To assist these agents, secretaries and dragomans will be chosen, upon whom the execution of their orders will be incumbent, and who for this purpose will be empowered to go on tours through the districts to question the inhabitants of Christian villages and to watch over the local authorities, etc. Since the task of the civil agents consists in providing for the introduction of the reforms and the tranquilization of the inhabitants, their mandate will lapse two years after their appointment. The Sublime Porte will instruct the local authorities to afford these agents all facilities in the accomplishment of their mission.
2.
Since the reorganization of the Turkish gendarmerie and police is one of the most essential measures for the pacification of the country, it is urgent that the fulfillment of these reforms be demanded from the Porte. In view of the circumstances that the few Swedish and other officers hitherto appointed were unable to make themselves useful, owing to their ignorance of the language and conditions of the country, it would be desirable to introduce the following changes and additions into the original project of reform:
a.
The task of reorganizing the gendarmerie in the three vilayets be intrusted to a general of foreign nationality in the service of the Imperial Ottoman Government, to whom officers of the great powers will be attached. Among themselves those officers will divide the districts in which to display their activity as organs of control, instructors, and organizers. They will thus be enabled to watch over the conduct of the troops toward the population.
b.
These officers can, if they think needful, have a certain number of foreign officers and noncommissioned officers allotted to them.
3.
As soon as the country is pacified the Ottoman Government is to be called upon to change the territorial division of the administrative districts, with a view to a more regular grouping of the various nationalities.
4.
At the same time the reorganization of the administrative and judicial institutions is to be demanded, so as to make them accessible to native Christians and to favor the development of local autonomies.
5.
Mixed commissions, composed of an equal number of Christians and Mohamedan delegates, are immediately to be appointed in the chief towns of the vilayets to investigate the political and other crimes committed during the disturbances. The Austro-Hungarian and Russian consuls will take part in these commissions.
6.
The Turkish Government is to be requested to set apart special sums—
a.
For the repatriation of the Christian inhabitants who have fled to Bulgaria and elsewhere.
b.
For the support of Christians who have lost their property and homes.
c.
For the rebuilding of the houses, churches, and schools destroyed by the Turks during the insurrections.
Commissions, to which Christian notables will belong, are to settle the distribution of these sums. The Austro-Hungarian and Russian consuls will watch over their application.
7.
The repatriated Christian inhabitants of the Christian villages burned by the Turkish troops and bashi-bazouks will be exempted from all taxes for one year.
8.
The Ottoman Government will again undertake to apply without the slightest delay all the reforms enumerated in the project of last February and all such reforms as may subsequently prove necessary.
9.
Since most of the excesses and cruelties have been committed by the secondclass reserves, or ilavehs, and by bashi-bazouks, it is urgent that the former be dismissed and the formation of bands of bashi-bazouks be absolutely prevented.

[Inclosure 2.]

Reply of the Sublime Porte to the Austro-Russian demands.

The Sublime Porte has recieved and examined the memorandum which their excellencies the ambassadors of Austro-Hungary and Russia transmitted to it on November 10, 1903.

It takes note of the assurances which have been given it regarding the full safeguarding of the sovereign rights of His Imperial Majesty the Sultan and the maintenance of the statu quo which respect for the authority and prestige of the Empire requires, as well as of the succeding declarations of their excellencies relative to the provisional character and to the limitation to two years of the additional provisions proposed with a view to assuring the accomplishment of the reforms which the Imperial Government adopted last February on the proposition of the two Governments—measures which it continues to faithfully execute.

The Sublime Porte hastens to declare that it accepts in principle the nine points enumerated in the previous memorandum of their excellencies, reserving to itself the right to enter into negotiations relative thereto in order to reach an understanding as to the details of their application, reconciling the first and second points with the independence, the sovereign rights, and the prestige of the Imperial Government, and with the statue quo.

November 24, 1903.