[Inclosure in No. 112.]
Mr. Gillman to Mr.
Wharton.
Consulate of the United States,
Jerusalem, June 23, 1890.
(Received July 17.)
No. 173.]
Sir: Referring to my dispatch No. 147 of the
28th of January last, and to the reply of the Department in dispatch No.
69 of the 11th March last, approving my action in the matter of the
illegal arrest of our citizens, I have the honor to report that, in
regard to the contradiction by His Excellency the governor of Jerusalem,
to the Grand Vizier, of certain details in my statement, I have
received, under date of the 3d instant, from the United States minister,
the suggestion to meet the governor and amicably endeavor to ascertain
the real facts in the matter, believing that His Excellency would
receive a like suggestion from the Central Government at
Constantinople.
The governor, on his return to the city after a lengthy absence, having
informed me of his having received from his Government instructions to
settle the matter amicably, a meeting was appointed at his residence for
the 19th instant. On this occasion, after statements and counter
statements on both sides, His Excellency, confining himself entirely to
the subject of the arrest of Angel, gave me in that connection, I am
happy to state, the most ample and unqualified apology, expressing the
deepest regret at the occurrence, stating that it was altogether owing
to the stupidity and ignorance of the official and soldiers, and that he
had given the strictest orders there should be no repetition of the
offense.
On my part, I could only express my satisfaction at his apology, so far
as it went, and promised to report the matter to my Government.
On my referring to the details in those cases which had been called in
question, His Excellency declined to enter on the subject, stating that
he had received no instructions from his Government in that
direction.
I took the opportunity to call his attention to the facts of the
robberies of Angel and Kanstoroom on, respectively, the 16th and 25th of
February last, in which the former lost goods to the value of $160 and
the latter had two horses stolen from him, neither of our citizens
receiving any redress; that both these men considered the acts as being
in retaliation for having brought complaints against the local
government, and that, recently, Angel, according to his statement made
me, owing to the delay in his obtaining justice, and fearing not only
for his property but his life, he believing them not to be safe under
the present government of Jerusalem, had disposed of his property at a
sacrifice, and with his wife and children had returned to the United
States.
The governor promised that more strict inquiries should be made into the
robberies.
All these particulars have been reported to the consulate-general for the
information of the United States minister.
I am, etc.,
