No. 540.
Mr. Wallace to Mr. Frelinghuysen.
Legation of
the United States,
Constantinople, May 1, 1883.
(Received May 21.)
No. 211.]
Sir: I have the honor to inclose a copy of a
communication addressed to the minister of foreign affairs upon the subject
of the attack upon the house of Rev. Mr. Cole, of Erzingen, vilayet of
Erzroom. You will doubtless observe it is the third one touching that
affair.
I am, &c.,
[Inclosure in No. 211.]
Mr. Wallace to
Aarifi Pasha.
United
States Legation,
Constantinople, April 23,
1883.
No. 159.]
Highness: In view of the assurances given me,
and repeated by your highness, that the persons engaged in the attack
upon the house of Rev. Mr. Cole, in Erzingen, vilayet of Erzroom, should
be discovered and punished, I regret to find it necessary to bring that
affair to your attention the third time.
This legation has information, under date of the 14th April instant, that
no action in the matter has been taken by the local government since the
receipt of your highnesses several communications containing the
aforesaid assurances. Previously thereto there had been a so-called
investigation, in which neither the parties whose premises were invaded
nor any of their witnesses were called or permitted to testify, a
one-sided procedure which I think myself justified in denouncing as a
scheme intended to screen the wrong-doers from punishment. In the hope
that the higher court at Erzroom may be constituted of officers more
enlightened in the law and more honorable in its administration, the
parties attacked have appealed to it, and on the appeal so taken the
business is at present resting. Your highness, having a disposition to
prevent lawlessness in the Empire, and see that justice is done, will
perceive the opportunity here offered to make examples. I wait with
renewed interest to see if anything will come of the orders which I am
led to believe have been in fact issued in behalf of the Sublime
Porte.
I avail, &c.,
