Mr. Thompson to Mr. Foster.
Constantinople, February 5, 1893. (Received February 27.)
Sir: I have the honor to report the following facts which have this day came to my knowledge. I have received the following telegrams to-day from the disturbed district:
Amassia, February 2.
Mr. Thompson,
American Minister, Pera, Constantinople:
Two native teachers of the Anatolian College have been arrested; bail is not accepted; threats of annihilating the college have been repeatedly heard.
The German vice-consul,
Carlman.
This was followed by the following telegram:
Marsovan, February 2, 1893.
The American
Minister,
Constantinople:
We confirm the telegram sent you yesterday from Amassia. Last night our new building having been set on fire was destroyed. The security of our safety is respectfully requested.
Herrick.
This was followed by the following telegram:
Sivas, February 3, 1893.
American Minister,
Constantinople:
Mr Herrick telegraphs from Marsovan that the new college building was destroyed Wednesday night by incendiary.
Jewett.
On receipt of these despatches I at once called on his excellency Said Pasha, minister of foreign affairs, and made their contents known to him. His excellency informed me that he had just received information of the destruction of the college building, and that steps would be taken at once to bring the guilty parties to justice, and that no pains would be spared by the Ottoman Government to protect the college from any outbreak that might be attempted. He expressed the opinion that the trouble had been caused by the Armenians in that section. I called his attention to the posting of inflammatory proclamations in Marsovan and the surrounding districts of Asia Minor on January 6; one of said proclamations was posted on the college building and that the governor of the province, when his attention was called to it, said to the college authorities, “You clone that.” The college authorities applied at the post-office to purchase stamps in Marsovan, and were refused with the statement, “You used up your stamps in sending out these proclamations,” showing to his excellency that the matter was not sudden or unexpected, but one that had been threatened since January 6. I informed his excellency that the property destroyed was the property of an American missionary society, and must be protected at all hazards, as well as the persons who are threatened; to all of which he agreed, and promised to have an investigation of the matter at once and to acquaint me with the result of such investigation, saying he hoped to be able to give me information in a very short time.
It is unfortunate that neither the United States nor Great Britain has a consul or consular agent near the disturbed district. The nearest United States consul is Jewett, at Sivas, which is distant from Marsovan about six days travel or more.
I have applied to Prince Radolin, the German ambassador, asking him to instruct the German consul, Carlman, at Amassia, to investigate the matter of the burning of the college building at Marsovan, and to give all the protection in his power and make a report, Amassia being distant about six hours from Marsovan. This his highness readily agreed to do and he promised to telegraph the German consul at Amassia such instructions.
I felt authorized to take this course under my instructions from the State Department. In the meantime I shall have to wait for further information from the disturbed district.
I have, etc.,