Mr. McDonald to Mr.
Gresham.
Legation of the United States,
Teheran, January 22,
1894. (Received March 5.)
No. 62.]
Sir: I have the honor to forward, herewith
inclosed, a copy of a letter I have received from Dr. J. P. Cochran, of
Oroomiah. * * *
It is satisfactory to observe from Dr. Cochran’s letter that during the
time of great anxiety following the murder of Aga Jan, and on the
occasion of the outrage on Mr. St. Pierre, the missionaries have acted
with most commendable self-control and circumspection, and in their
communications with the Government authorities relative to these crimes
they have been very careful and discreet.
I also inclose my reply to Dr. Cochran’s letter.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure 1 in No. 62.]
Dr. Cochran to
Mr. McDonald.
Oroomiah, December 29,
1893.
Dear Sir: I am in receipt of Mr. Tyler’s
letter of December 18.
* * * * * * *
A few days ago the governor sent asking me if I could help in
bringing about a quiet settlement of the Aga Jan murder affair by
some means which would heal rather than aggravate the present
strained relations of the more fanatical Moslems and the roughs
toward the Christians, reporting that strong orders had come from
Tabriz for the arrest of three men supposed to be implicated. One is
arrested. One has taken refuge in the house of the chief, Muztahed,
who refuses to give him up, and the other is not to be found. The
one at the ecclesiastic’s is known positively to have been the man
who made the first stab on Aga Jan. The Mullahs, Sayyeds, and roughs
are reported to be bound together by an oath to take revenge should
anything be done to the leaders of the mob.
After getting the opinion of the Christians as far as I am able in
two days—Armenians, old Nestorians, Catholics, and Protestants—I
replied that the Christians simply begged for protection. If that
would be more secure in the future by having one or two of these men
killed, that was what they wished. If, on the other hand, this
punishment was going to bring on more hatred’ and blood, they wished
the matter dropped. Mr. Governor, in response, asked that I write to
our missionaries in Tabriz asking that they urge Aga Jan’s wife to
accept such redress as the Government might communicate to her. It
is the plan of the governor to give out of his own pocket about 150
tomans to Laya Khanum, and get the Government to give her two sons a
pension, if the authorities in Tabriz are willing to settle it in
this way. I am writing to Mr. Whipple, on whose premises this Laya
Khanum is, telling, him of what has been suggested here.
The governor and other Oroomiah Khans insist that it will create a
great disturbance should these men be all taken and sent off or
punished [Page 508] here; if not a
mob, murders in underhand ways would be perpetrated on the
Christians. I thought it best to report this to your excellency and
to say that for the present, at least, it seems wise to let the
Government pursue this course if they choose.
Respectfully, yours,
[Inclosure 2 in No. 62.]
Mr. McDonald to
Mr. Cochran.
Legation of the United States,
Teheran, January 18, 1894.
My Dear Sir: I have received your favor of
the 29th ultimo. I had previously been informed, through a telegram
to the prime minister, of the capture and killing of the four
outlaws, two of whom I was left to infer were the ruffians who
assaulted Mr. St. Pierre. It is encouraging that the Government has
acted so promptly and so thoroughly in this matter, and the effect,
it is reasonable to believe, will be salutary on similar
characters.
In regard to the Aga Jan case, you are on the ground and can act more
intelligently than I can advise. It seems to me, however, that your
reply to the governor was discreet. What the Christians want is
peace, quiet, and good will, so far as they are attainable. While
the criminals ought to be punished, that is a matter between the
Persian Government and its guilty subjects. All the parties to the
affair were Persians and not Americans, and I think the authorities
should not seek to shove the responsibility of extreme measures on
the missionaries, to their detriment no doubt; nor should they allow
it. The Government should take care of its own criminals.
I repeat, therefore, that in my opinion your response to the governor
was judicious in that it is in the line of conciliation and better
feeling between yourselves and the natives. It is also in accord
with the religion which you teach, which is not one of blood. In a
contest of violence and hatred you have all to lose. In conciliating
the good will and friendship of the people you have all to gain.
Without these your work must be futile and fruitless and bring only
grief to yourselves. At the same time do not misunderstand me as
saying that the wretches who committed the atrocity should not be
punished, but that you should not be led into the attitude of judge
and executioner. The good of yourselves and your cause rather than a
vengeance that will stir up fanatical strife and conflict is, it
seems to me, what you want.
I am sorry to say that I still continue quite unwell.
Very truly yours,
