Mr. Newberry to Mr.
Foster.
Legation of
the United States,
Constantinople, August 29, 1892.
(Received Septem
No. 527.]Sir: Dr. Dwight, of the Bible House, called to make
a complaint regarding the private correspondence of Miss Bush, an American
missionary at Yan, seized by the authorities at that place. As will be seen
by the inclosed copy of my [note] to the Porte, I have requested the
immediate return of their letters.
I have, etc.
H. R. Newberry,
Chargé d’Affaires ad interim.
[Inlosure 1 in No. 527.]
Mr. Newberry to
Said Pasha.
Legation of the United States,
Constantinople, August 29,
1892.
No. 116.]Excellency: On the 11th of August the custom
authorities at Van seized from a trunk belonging to Miss C. Bush, of New
York, all her private correspondence received from home friends, and
sent it to the office of the governor-general for examination. This
correspondence seized embraced several hundred letters which have
accumulated during fifteen years past. The governor-general claims the
right to detain and has refused to surrender upon the friendly request
of Mr. Fitzmorice, British vice-consul at Van.
I believe it has never been admitted by the legation, nor indeed claimed
by the Ottoman authorities, that the officials of the Turkish Government
may seize and examine the private papers of respectable American
citizens. Were it necessary to examine such papers, the examination
would legally be made by a consul alone.
Hence I beg that you will kindly order by telegraph the immediate return
to Miss Bush of her letters now in the hands of the governor-general of
Van.
Since delay will imply the reading of these papers and the violation of
the feelings of the girl whose thoughts are thus to be discussed by
strangers, I beg that orders may be sent telegraphically if
possible.
Permit me to take this opportunity to express, etc.,
H. R. Newberry,
Chargé d’Affaires ad
interim.
