The Acting Secretary of State to Minister Leishman.

No. 845.]

Sir: Your dispatch No. 1074, of the 27th ultimo, with inclosures, relating to the proposed establishment by the Turkish Government of petroleum depots in the populous centers of the Empire, has been received and has had attention.

The Department approves your course in protesting against the introduction of this measure in the absence of a proper understanding and agreement, and also your view that the matter should be treated much upon the same lines as the question of the 3 per cent increase in the Turkish customs dues, considered in the Department’s instruction No. 810, of April 27, 1905.

I am, etc.,

F. B. Loomis.