Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, Transmitted to Congress, With the Annual Message of the President, December 5, 1892
Mr. Hirsch to Mr. Blaine.
Constantinople, May 5, 1892. (Received May 19.)
Sir: I submit for the consideration of the Department copy of correspondence between Dr. Herrick of Anatolia College at Marsovan, and this legation, on the status of native teachers in an American institution.
I have, etc.,
Mr. Herrick to Mr. Hirsch.
Marsovan, April 18, 1892.
My Dear Sir: It will certainly not be deemed superfluous for me to express to you directly for myself and for my colleagues our sense of our obligation to your excellency for the zeal, the high intelligence, and the success with which you have [Page 569] maintained the right of the schools and colleges established and conducted by American citizens within the Ottoman Empire to the protection of the Ottoman Government and to the immunity from all molestation. It was my privilege in November, 1890, in a personal interview to assure you of the unqualified loyalty to treaty and rites of hospitality, of the institution over which, for the moment, I am called to preside, and of all my colleagues at Marsovan.
I have ever fully believed that our own legation and the home Government would sustain us in a position so clearly unassailable on the basis of international law, of comity, of humanity, of treaty, of philanthropy.
I was not therefore greatly alarmed at the outlook last January. I knew that while we were trying to do our duty you would be doing your devoir there, and I know God is over all. In the success you have reached, even beyond our hopes, I rejoice greatly and thank you heartily.
Now, I have to come to you with a question of great importance, which might at any time affect us vitally. Our staff of instruction in the college consists in large majority of natives, Armenians, and Greeks. Could we, by false charges brought by inimical persons, be stripped of our teachers, it would cripple, it might destroy the usefulness of the college.
In giving to Anatolia College the powerful protection of the United States legation and of the United States Government, just how much does this mean, in the case of native members of our staff of instruction? Of course I know something it does not mean. It does not mean that these subjects of the Ottoman Government enjoy, like ourselves, the rights of extraterritoriality. It does not mean that one of these gentlemen can not be arrested and brought before an Ottoman tribunal. I hope it does mean that, as one of the officers of the Armenian college one of these gentlemen could not be proceeded against, in any way, without due notice to the head of the college, and an opportunity to present the case with specific charges, to your knowledge. Will the Government accept our assurance concerning the loyalty of our men and guard us against injustice and injury in their persons? Would a personal declaration be signed from every such teacher, sent you through me, with my indorsement.
This is an eminently practical question. There is a young Armenian, a native of this city, who has spent five years of study at Williamstown, Mass., in express preparation for a professorship in our college, who stands ready to enter upon his duties in the autumn of 1893. He is now here, but he is so much disturbed by things he hears—e. g., the edict forbidding Armenians to go from province to province—that he tells me formally that, if we can not secure him freedom from molestation in his work in the college he shall not return to reside in this country. He is willing to give any pledges required in reference to loyalty to the Government, utterly discountenancing any movement unfriendly to the Government among those of his race. In my judgment it is clearly in the interest of the Turkish Government to facilitate the work of such a man in an institution like ours. To bind educated Armenians to the Ottoman rule, not to alienate them, is the true policy; to invite them to, not to drive them from, the country is high diplomacy. Am I not right in this? Could you furnish me with an early reply to this communication, I should be greatly obliged. I shall hope for the honor of a personal interview at Constantinople before the summer is past.
I remain, etc.,
Mr. Hirsch to Mr. Herrick.
Constantinople, May 4, 1892.
My Dear Sir: I am in receipt of your letter of 18th ultimo, and in reply thank you and your colleagues for the sentiments expressed. It is always encouraging to know that one’s labors have not been in vain; but in so far as I have been able to serve the American educational institutions in Turkey I have but done my simple duty, and the credit for anything accomplished (if to any one) is due to the home Government, whose instructions I have endeavored to faithfully execute.
I do not any longer anticipate any serious disturbance in the amicable relations so long existing between the Turkish authorities and the American schools, and sincerely hope your long career of usefulness will continue without interruption.
Your inquiry in relation to your native teachers is one which would naturally suggest itself to one intrusted with such vast interests. In order to be able to give [Page 570] you an authoritative answer, I shall lose no time in asking the opinion of the State Department.
For the present, however, I see no reason why the treatment of these teachers on the part of their Government should he less friendly or just than heretofore. The guarantee required by this young man of whom you make mention is one which I do not believe the Department would authorize; anything in the nature of a passport (and such a guarantee would seem to partake of that nature) can only be issued to an actual American citizen. However, the question in its entirety as submitted in your letter, will at once be submitted to the Department of State.
With best wishes for yourself personally, as well as for your institution,
I remain, etc.,