Mr. Beale to Mr. Foster.
Athens , November 17, 1892 . (Received December 6.)
Sir: I think it will be of interest to the Government to know that the cholera here and in the East, as an epidemic, is over; and that it will be a matter of satisfaction to the Department to hear that in the country where the ravages of this epidemic were the greatest (in Persia) our representative and the American missionaries did credit to the American name. Our representative remained at his post. It has been reported to me since I left Persia that when the cholera was at its height and the people in Teheran were dying in the streets it occurred to Mr. Fox, our representative, to open the American Hospital to people of all religions. After a conference with the missionaries of that station it was found that they had not funds sufficient to carry out Mr. Fox’s plan.
Mr. Fox at once applied to the ministers of other countries, who warmly seconded his plan and gave it substantial aid. This at once brought our representative to the front as one of the leaders of the foreigners in Persia. All news that the foreigners received in relation to the epidemic came through and from him. The English officials placed their system of government telegraphs at his disposal. The hospital was filled with Europeans, Persians, and Americans.
The indirect effect of this work was very great. It came at a time when most needed. When I left that country, but a few months ago, western enterprises were in disfavor. The tobacco monopoly had been abolished; the export privileges of that company had been taken from it; the managers of other western enterprises feared they would not have the aid and good will of the Persians. Many of the leading Persians were objecting to all attempts to develop Persia by means of western capital; the people of western nations had reached the very zero of their unpopularity. The hospital work arrested the feeling of distrust that was rapidly spreading in Persia. It remained for Mr. Fox and the missionaries who coöperated with him to restore the faith and confidence in foreigners that seemed, for a time, to be lost. The conception of this plan and the vigor with which our representative and the missionaries executed it have done more for American prestige in Persia than anything that has been done since our legation there has been established.
I have, etc.,