Mr. Wharton to Mr. Hirsch.
Washington, May 25, 1892.
Sir: I have received your No. 440, of the 5th instant, communicating copy of your correspondence with Dr. Derrick, of Anatolia College, at Marsovan, touching the status of the native teachers in an American institution.
Dr. Herrick, while recognizing that natives employed as teachers in the institutions under American direction may not be protected on a parity with our citizens, neither enjoy the benefits of extra territoriality, suggests that “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” the notice of the United States legation. To the end of securing protection for such native teachers, Dr. Herrick inquires: “Will the Government accept our assurance concerning the loyalty of our men and guard us against injustice and injury in their persons?” He describes the case of a certain young Armenian, educated in the United States, at Williamstown, Mass., who 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.”
Your reply to Dr. Herrick anticipates in great measure the response of this Department. A passport is the usual, and indeed the only means of officially certifying the right of the holder to the protection of the government issuing it, but such a paper can only be granted to a citizen of the United States. There is no way known by which this Government could intervene as sponsor for the loyalty of an Ottoman subject to his own Government; nor could it appeal to the Ottoman Government to accept as conclusive the personal assurances of an individual Turkish subject as to his loyalty. As an individual owing allegiance to the Ottoman authority, the representatives of the United States could not interpose to screen him from any charge of violation of law duly preferred against him. So much for the individual status of an employé of an American college.
But in the light of the undoubted right of any legitimate American enterprise in Turkey to prosecute its work by the usual and lawful channels of native service, any action by the Turkish authorities aiming to disturb or stop the operations of the institution by harassing its employés, might very properly give rise to remonstrance. The ordinary and necessary respect for the conduct of any foreign interest, under the capitulations, should be sufficient to protect an American college, which is a legitimate American interest, from being assailed in the person of its servants.
I observe with pleasure that you answer Dr. Herrick that you “see no reason why the treatment of those teachers on the part of their Government should be less friendly or just than heretofore.”
There should certainly be no ground for anxious apprehension in this regard if all the American educational institutions in Turkey share in the determination of Anatolia College and its respected president that the American rights of teaching shall not be misused to shelter any movement unfriendly to the Ottoman Government.
I am, etc.,
Acting Secretary.