No. 628.
Mr. Evarts to Mr. Heap.
Washington, October 15, 1880.
Sir: I had the pleasure to receive, on the 11th instant, your telegraphic message, in cipher, dated at Constantinople the 10th instant, in the following words, viz:
Murderers of Dr. Parsons and servant tried yesterday. Ali sentenced to be hung; his two accomplices to imprisonment at hard labor for fifteen years.
Upon the 13th instant, I caused to be sent to you, likewise in cipher, the following telegram:
Congratulations on successful efforts in Parsons’ case. Pursue matter till sentence executed.
Your message contains gratifying intelligence, and while this government recognizes in the present action of the Ottoman authorities that spirit of justice which should characterize a friendly foreign power, jealous of its good name, in dealing with the perpetrators of such an unprovoked and brutal murder, the Department attributes, in no small degree, the good results thus far attained, to your attentive, patient, and vigilant consideration for the rights of American citizenship, and to a faithful interpretation of its instructions in the premises. Your dispatches have kept the Department advised of the successive steps taken from time to time, before the trial, of the delays incident thereto, and of the apparent disregard of the Turkish Government for the sentences imposed by its courts in criminal cases, even under more than ordinary circumstances. The Department appreciates, therefore, notwithstanding the criminals have been duly convicted and sentenced, the uncertainty of the speedy execution of the respective sentences thus imposed; if, indeed, they shall be practically and faithfully carried out. It is confidently hoped, however, that the Ottoman Government will not shrink from the responsibility of strictly enforcing the sentence [Page 992] of one of its courts, in doing which not only the majesty of the law will be maintained, but the death of an American citizen, deliberately and cruelly murdered, will be thus far avenged, a reparation which, in strictest justice, this government has a right to expect and demands. Besides this, summary action in dealing with these criminals will, while showing Turkish condemnation of such atrocious acts, give, implicitly, greater protection to the numerous American missionaries and travelers temporarily sojourning in that country, who have a right to expect and should receive the most perfect protection the Ottoman Government can guarantee or afford.
You will, therefore, continue your judicious efforts looking to the fulfilment by the Turkish Government of the sentences in each case, and should occasion arise to demand energetic measures, you will plainly intimate to the minister for foreign affairs of that government, that the Government of the United States expects a rigid compliance, unless for sufficient reasons to the contrary, with the letter of the sentence and nothing less.
I am, &c.,