The danger now seems so serious in the vilayets of Aleppo and Adana that
I would advise the removal of missionaries to the seacoast and ask
refuge on the war vessel of some friendly power whose boats are near,
but believe that now the danger would be greater for our people while in
transitu than if they remained calmly at their posts.
[Inclosure in No. 629.]
Mr. Gibson to Mr.
Short.
United States Consulate,
Beirut Syria, October 1, 1895.
No. 84.]
Sir: I deem it my duty to notify you and to
beg that you will bring to the attention of His Excellency Minister
Terrell the following reports which come to me from Aleppo,
Alexandretta, Marash, Hadjin, Tarsus, and Mersine, places in the
vilayets of Aleppo and Adana, and from sources which seem to be
perfectly trustworthy. I would add the names of my informants, but
they request that names be not given because the men in the movement
alluded to would have no scruples as to taking the life of anyone
who informed against them.
I make this report also because one English consul, if not more than
one, in the disturbed district has already brought this matter to
the attention of the British embassy at Constantinople, and because
our American missionaries in the vilayets named hope that Minister
Terrell will cooperate with the British authorities. My own desire
in the matter is to insure the protection of American citizens, and
if these reports shall impress his excellency sufficiently to again
insist on the presence of the Marblehead or
some one of our men-of-war, I shall be glad to go up in person and
aid the officer in charge in the protection of our citizens and in
the closing up of other complaints in that section.
Briefly, then, I am informed that extensive plans are being made in
the Adana and Aleppo provinces with a view to effect a revolution.
Certain members of an Armenian revolutionary society now located in
the most populous towns and cities mentioned are said to carry arms
and bombs and to be inciting the people to rebellion, having won
large numbers over to their side. I understand that they are arming
and drilling for an uprising or some emergency. Our missionary says
he has done all in his power to get the leading men of his town to
compel those insurrectionists to leave, but in vain. In spite of
their attitude for law and order, both sides seem to be against the
missionaries, and some of the leaders of the insurrectionists have
threatened to murder the missionaries, because, in the first place,
they hate them, and second, because it may bring odium on the
Turks.
It is also stated that within three or four weeks these leaders will
have their preparations or plans ready to seize Government buildings
and such military equipments and weapons as can be found in the two
provinces, the real purpose of the men being to lead the ignorant
throng into the commission of such acts as will bring about a
massacre of Christians similar to that of Sassoun last year. The
leader of the revolutionists has now gone over to Cyprus in order to
cable to Paris for instructions as to the date of the prepared
rising.
[Page 1323]
Now, the Turkish Government may already be in possession of these
reports, and the reports may be only the fears of the people
expressed in wild rumors, but as there are three American ladies in
Hadjin and several American famdies in Marash who are very anxious
for advice about remaining or coming to the coast I would like to
have either your advice or any information you may be able to get
from headquarters as to any real danger in their present
positions.
The United States consular agent at Alexandretta, Mr. Walker, writes
me by to-day’s mail that Alexandretta has been overrun for the past
three weeks with about two thousand Turkish recruits or troops from
the interior, totally without discipline. No means are at hand to
prevent mischief, and the city is described as in danger from this
cause, for fights among the soldiers occur daily. People are
insulted in the streets, and merchants have been compelled to close
their shops the past week. The inhabitants are frightened, and all
the consuls have informed their superiors of the condition of
affairs.
I am, etc.,
Thomas B. Gibson,
United States Consul.
