Mr. Pratt to Mr.
Blaine.
Legation of
the United States,
Teheran, June 18, 1889.
(Received July 24.)
No. 365.]
Sir: Referring to my dispatch No. 363, diplomatic
series, of the 8th instant, I have the honor to report that yesterday, the
17th instant, 1 received a note from his excellency Khali] Khalid Bey,
Turkish ambassador
[Page 647]
at this
capital, inclosing for transmission through such channels as I should
select, a communication addressed to his excellency the governor-general of
the Vilayet of Van, on the subject of the complaint of Messrs. McDowell and
Wishard, brought by me to the embassy’s attention on the 8th as already
reported.
Copies and translations of the ambassador’s above-mentioned note and of my
acknowledgment thereof are herein respectfully submitted.
I have also the honor to submit inclosed for your consideration the copy of a
letter I have this day forwarded to Mr. McDowell with the note from the
Turkish embassy to the governor-general aforesaid.
It is my hope that the affair may thus be satisfactorily adjusted without the
necessity of our Government’s intervention.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure 1 in No.
365.—Translation.]
Khalil Khalid Bey
to Mr. Pratt.
Mr. Minister: I have had the honor to receive
the letter yon were pleaded to address to me under date of the 8th
instant, on the subject of the complaint of two of your countrymen,
traveling on the frontier, against the authorities, the inhabitants and
certain priests of the village of Gundekta, situated in the province of
Tkhoma, in Ottoman Kurdistan.
Though trusting that the incident in question is hut of a purely local
and private nature, I have, nevertheless, not failed, by the letter you
will find inclosed, to call the facts to the attention of his excellency
the governor-general of the Vilayet of Van, who, I am sure, will not
delay to have justice in the matter accorded.
Accept, etc.,
[Inclosure 2 in No.
365.—Translation.]
Mr. Pratt to
Khalil Khalid Bey.
Legation of the United States,
Teheran, June 17,
1889.
Excellency: I have the honor to acknowledge the
receipt of your esteemed note of the 16th instant, containing a
communication for his excellency the governor-general of the Vilayet of
Van, on the subject of the complaint brought by two of my countrymen
against the authorities, the inhabitants, and certain priests of the
village of Gundekta, situated in the province of Tkhoma, Ottoman
Kurdistan.
In expressing to you my thanks for the manner in which you have been
pleased to take this matter in hand, I hasten to say that I shall,
without delay, transmit the letter in question to its destination
through the agency of Mr. McDowell, and beg your excellency to accept,
etc.,
[Inclosure 3 in No. 365.]
Mr. Pratt to Mr.
McDowell.
Legation of the United States,
Teheran, June 18,
1889.
Sir: Referring to my communication of the 8th
instant, I take pleasure in handing yon inclosed a sealed note which in
accordance with my representations based upon the complaint conveyed in
your letter of the 25th ultimo, his excellency Khalil Khalid Bey, the
Turkish ambassador at Teheran, has addressed to his excellency the
governor-general of Van.
[Page 648]
The note in question you will please deliver in person or transmit
through most reliable hands to the governor-general in order that this
matter may have his earliest attention and the desired investigation be
instituted as soon as possible.
I am, etc.,
