Mr. Terrell to Mr. Gresham.
Constantinople, August 18, 1893. (Received September 4.)
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your dispatch No. 30, of August 3, inclosing copy of letter from John Gillespie, secretary of Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions, dated July 29; also copy of letter from Miss Melton dated Amadia, June 19, and copy of letter from Mr. E. W. McDowell written at Amadia, June 19.
The communications sent by these missionaries reveal nothing which was not already known to me and communicated to you in dispatches already sent. I informed you of the prompt measures taken by me to secure the safety of our countrymen, and I saw the telegrams to the grand vizier informing him of their safety and of obedience to his orders telegraphed for their protection. As I before advised you, the Sublime Porte is in this instance attempting to secure punishment for the offenders, who, unfortunately, cannot be punished until they are identified. My last letter from Mr. McDowell, of some 20 pages, and too lengthy in view of its contents for an inclosure, gives no fact to fix guilt on any particular party. He suspects the “muidai umumy” is bribed, as I am informed by his telegram of the 16th. This I communicated to the grand vizier yesterday, who thinks the functionary referred to is the prosecuting officer. He has been ordered on business elsewhere, now. It should be remembered that this Government has on my request removed the entire investigation from Amadia to Mosul, a distance of 100 miles from the scene of the outrage on Miss Melton and from the homes of prisoners and witnesses. This was done on my being informed by Mr. McDowell that the officials at Amadia were corrupt [Page 669] men. To me this has the appearance of an honest desire to investigate and punish.
I trust that as much good faith may be manifested to correct other wrongs and annoyances to American interests, and hope that, with prudent attention to them, unpleasant relations may be avoided.
I have, etc.,