Mr. Gresham to Mr. Terrell.

No. 402.]

Sir: Referring to the Department’s instruction No. 360, of the 15th ultimo,1 in relation to the request of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions for protection to the American missionaries at Bitlis, I have to apprise you of the receipt of a letter of the 21st instant upon the subject from the foreign secretary of the Board, written in reply to the Department’s communication of the 11th ultimo, of which you have a copy. In this letter, Mr. Smith, after stating that, with your full knowledge of the facts, you will doubtless lean to the side of special care for American interests, expresses the hope that reasonable precaution against calamity or loss of their rights will be taken in behalf of the missionaries at Bitlis, who undertook their labors there in reliance upon the ability and purpose of this Government to protect them in life, liberty, and unhindered pursuit of their legitimate work. He adds that while advices from time to time indicate that as yet no personal harm has come to them, and they remain at their posts in good courage and hope, the conditions around them are such as to justify grave apprehensions on the part of their friends in this country.

Under these circumstances it is thought probable that in the exercise of the discretion conferred upon you by my telegram of the 11th ultimo, you may already have ordered Mr. Jewett to Bitlis to insure due protection for the missionaries there. The case seems to warrant erring on the side of abundant precaution.

I am, etc.,

W. Q. Gresham.
  1. Not printed.