Mr. Terrell to Mr. Gresham.

No. 460.]

Sir: The inclosure, to which your attention is respectfully invited, announces the apprehension of a massacre of Christians. I at once, on its receipt, sent my note to the Porte (a copy of which I inclose), and telegraph you to-day on the subject, a copy of which is also inclosed. There is reason to apprehend trouble; though recently assurances were given me by the foreign minister of the safety of our missionaries.

I am informed that the missionaries at Olintab and Aleppo are men of nerve, and Dr. Washburn, of Robert College, believes that the danger apprehended by them is real. It is believed that the greatest danger from ignorant fanaticism will follow the report of the European delegates on the Sassoun Commission. That report is expected in April.

My views of the importance of a friendly visit to the defenseless coast of the eastern Mediterranean by our war vessels were given in a former dispatch. Their presence there now might avert trouble.

I have, etc.,

A. W. Terrell.
[Page 1239]
[Inclosure 1 in No. 460.]

Mr. Gibson to Mr. Short.

No. 60.]

Sir: I have the honor to transmit to yon by this mail under separate cover a copy of the Armenian pamphlet, a number of which were sent to Dr. F. D. Shepard, of the American hospital at Aintab, and about which a charge was made by the Turkish authorities against Consular Agent Poche for introducing seditious books. Dr. Shepard’s name was mistaken at the time for Dr. Chirde, and an examination showed that there is nothing whatever compromising or at all seditious in the pamphlets. You will please forward the pamphlet to His Excellency Minister Terrell, with a request to take such steps as he may deem proper to secure an adequate satisfaction for the gratuitous and entirely unfounded charges brought against Mr. Poche. This is due to him, and I beg to add that unless some prompt and powerful measures are taken to restrain the hostile attitude and growing aggressions of the Turkish authorities in that section, American interests will be sacrificed and the lives of our people actually placed in jeopardy.

Mr. Poche has already notified Minister Terrell directly, according to previous orders, of the arrest of two agents of the American Bible Society of Constantinople, near Aleppo, and I learn to-day through Mr. Poche that the Americans at Aintab, Marash, Hadjin, and Orfa are seriously apprehending an approaching massacre.

I am, etc.,

Thomas R. Gibson,
United States Consul.
[Inclosure 2 in No. 460.]

Mr. Terrell to Saïd Pasha.

No. 53.]

Sir: Information deemed reliable reaches me that the Americans at Aintab, Marash, Hadjin, and Orfa seriously apprehend an approaching massacre at the hands of Mussulmans. The letter containing this information is dated March 5. Since that date, in a personal interview with your excellency, I demanded that you telegraph orders to every portion of the Ottoman Empire where American missionaries are found, and require all civil and military functionaries to respect their persons and property, to relieve them from annoyances and insults, which have recently become too frequent.

I hope your excellency sent that telegram since the letter referred to was written. If you have done so, be pleased to inform me before the 14th instant.

I have time and again urged the Porte to restrain the insulting conduct of bad men in the interior; and, while I feel sure the disposition of His Imperial Majesty’s Government is to protect American citizens in all their rights, annoyances and a disregard of their rights multiply.

I have felt unwilling to increase the embarrassments now surrounding Turkey by demanding reparation for more than one wrongful act. Your excellency has always promised compliance with my requests for an observance of treaty rights, and I have often refrained from communicating [Page 1240] to my home Government complaints made to me. Only a few-days ago an American went from Bitlis to Mush to inform me through a colleague that Americans at Bitlis feared a massacre. He could not trust the mail, for his letters now are seldom delivered. To-day, after being informed that a massacre is feared in four other distant towns on account of the manifest prejudice of the officers and populace, it has become my duty to inform my Government.

I will be glad to inform my Government on the 15th instant what course your excellency has adopted for the security of American citizens in the interior.

I am, etc.,

A. W. Terrell.