I inclose a copy of Mr. Riddle’s report. * * *
It affords me pleasure to report that Mr. Riddle, in the discharge of his
delicate and responsible duties at Aleppo and Aintab, executed with
fidelity and intelligence his instructions. While affording timely
protection for a school which, I think, had been marked for destruction,
he secured at Aleppo the cordial coöperation and esteem of the local
governor, as shown by that gentleman’s letter.
[Inclosure in No. 329.]
Mr. Riddle to
Mr. Terrell.
Legation of the United States,
Legation of the United
States, October 29,
1894.
Sir: I have the honor to report that, in
obedience to your instructions of date. September 27, I proceeded
directly to Alexandretta and Aleppo, and on October 6, with Mr.
Poche, consular agent at Aleppo, called on Hassan Pasha, vali or
governor-general of the province of Aleppo, with a request for
information in regard to the charges brought against professors in
the American college at Aintab. The vali assured me (contrary to
what the grand vizier stated to you in September) that there had
never been the slightest suspicion against Mr. Fuller or any other
American teacher in the college; that papers had been found in the
house of an Armenian preacher imprisoned at Berejik which seemed to
compromise three persons connected with the college, Messrs.
Bezdjian, Bulbulian, and Serkis Livonian, the latter a brother of
the imprisoned preacher, but that, as all three were Turkish
subjects, it was no concern of the American legation. To this I
answered that, while disclaiming all intervention in Turkish
affairs, the United States Government would probably expect that the
Porte would not claim the right to accuse and try native teachers in
American schools without affording the legation the opportunity of
being fully informed as to all the facts in the case. I told him I
had undertaken an eight days’ journey to Aleppo in order to
facilitate the Turkish authorities in the investigation of any
charges they might bring against anyone connected with the American
college at Aintab, and I therefore hoped he would proceed as
expeditiously as possible with an examination. He replied that he
had as yet received no instructions from the Porte, but when I
suggested that in that case I had better telegraph you to see the
grand vizier and request him to send instructions at once as to what
was to be done in Aleppo, the vali calmly admitted that he had full
instructions from the Porte, directing that the papers of the
suspected teachers should be seized at Aintab and brought to Aleppo
for examination, and in case the suspicions felt were justified by
finding seditious papers among them, that
[Page 747]
the three men should themselves be brought to
Aleppo for examination and trial; that at each step in the
proceedings an official representative of the United States
Government would be allowed to be present, in order to satisfy
himself of their fairness. The concession of this important
principle, which fulfills all the desires of the missionary board,
would seem to preclude the future possibility of capricious and
groundless arrests of native teachers merely with a view to hamper
or break up the work in the colleges.
As soon as the necessary orders were issued by the vali, I proceeded
to Aintab with Mr. Poche, where we were present at the seizure of
papers and at their subsequent examination in Aleppo. As I have
already reported by telegraph, nothing objectionable was found among
them, the vali expressed himself as satisfied of the groundlessness
of the suspicions against the teachers, and the papers were sent
back to their owners in Aintab.
No one connected with the college was at any time under arrest, and
the work of the college was not interrupted.
In conclusion, I must express my great obligation to Mr. Poche, the
consular agent at Aleppo. His efficiency as interpreter, his
intelligence, and the influence he seems to enjoy among Turkish
officials were of the greatest service in reaching the prompt and
satisfactory result attained.
I have, etc.,
