Mr. Thompson to Mr. Foster.

No. 25.]

Sir: I have the honor to inclose some extracts from letters I have from Cesarea, Asia Minor, which recent events that have occurred at Marsovan causes me to fear that trouble will occur at Cesarea unless means are taken at once to prevent it.

(1)
The populace are disposed to use violence towards all Christians indiscriminately.
(2)
The police have been fired upon at Beleyesi, 13 miles from Cesarea, the governor has armed the populace and sent them to bring the villagers to terms—no news of result.
(3)
Populace in Cesarea attacked an Armenian who was bringing dried meat to market; took it away from him and divided it among the crowd; thereupon all the Christians closed their shops and fled in panic. January 23.
(4)
The Armenian teacher of the Cesarea high school was cut down with a sword by a Mohammedan in the street, who instantly ran away. The teacher who lives in Mr. Farnsworth’s house has a deep gash across his face. This has so alarmed the students that they wish to go home. January 19.
(5)
Large numbers of Armenians are imprisoned and are put to torture in order to extract confessions.
(6)
An Armenian from London is said to be at the bottom of the trouble, but has not been found.
(7)
Government is doing well in trying to restrain unruly Mohammedans, but matters are very near to a dangerous outburst of fanaticism.

These statements come from a reliable source, and appear to be a part of the scheme connected with the posting of the incendiary proclamations of January 6.

I have called the attention of his excellency, Said Pasha, minister of foreign affairs, to them, and requested him to have the matter investigated, with a view of preventing further trouble in the distracted district.

I have also thought it advisable to cause the same information to be conveyed to British and German ambassadors, who are equally interested with the United States in protecting the Christians in the disturbed districts, and they each propose to take such action as will inform the Porte that the disturbances threatened must be prevented.

I have, etc.,

David P. Thompson.