No. 462.
Mr. Fish to Mr. Brown.
Washington, December 5, 1871.
Sir: I have received your dispatch No. 28, of the 6th ultimo, inclosing correspondence between yourself and the vice-consul-general at Beirut, in regard to the “amount of protection, if any, consuls can give to the teachers, pupils, and natives, who have been connected through the ministry of the American missionaries, from persecution on account of their religious belief.”
In reply, I have to state that the general position and principles advanced by you on the subject are correct, and are within the provision of the treaty between the United States and Turkey, and your communication to the vice-consul-general is approved.
I am, &c.,