Office of the Historian

Mr. Terrell to Mr. Olney.

Legation of the United States,
Constantinople, August 28, 1895. (Received Sept. 12.)
No. 605.]

Sir: I have the honor to inclose for your information a copy of my letter to Mr. Christie at Tarsus, which refers to his application to you for protection and to my inability to keep up a correspondence with all missionaries. Rev. Mr. Dwight, of the Bible House, informs me that the steps promptly taken by me, from time to time, in the interest of missionaries at Van were by him as promptly reported to them. Please inform Mr. Barton of this fact. Mr. Dwight has been requested to inform all American missionary school-teachers in Asia Minor of the contents of the inclosed letter.

I have, etc.,

A. W. Terrell.
[Inclosure in No. 605.]

Mr. Terrell to Mr. Christie.

United States Legation,
Constantinople, August 26, 1895.

Dear Sir: I have the honor to inform you that the request for the protection of your school made to the State Department by your brother on the 12th instant had been anticipated by me on the 7th instant at the Sublime Porte. The minister of foreign affairs promised me on that date that he should act at once—telegraph orders that would [Page 1277] insure protection to the school and the arrest and punishment of the perpetrators of the attack.

I have directed Mr. Gibson, consul at Beirut, to examine and make me a report in the matter, but as I fear he may be prevented by quarantine, I should be very glad if you would send me a detailed statement of the whole occurrence.

The absence of sufficient clerical force here (which for five months last winter consisted of only a messenger) makes it impossible for me always to reply to every communication I receive, but I can assure you that every request, complaint, or grievance which reaches me receives my careful attention.

In Egypt a very practical system exists for the presenting of educational and missionary business to the legation, as in that country all missionaries present their requests to one of their number resident in Cairo, who in turn lays the matter personally before the diplomatic agent.

I would therefore suggest that in future business from the interior should be presented to the legation through the Bible House, whose large staff of assistants renders general correspondence more feasible.

Very truly, yours,

A. W. Terrell.