Mr. Terrell to Mr.
Olney.
Legation of the United States,
Constantinople, December 3,
1895. (Received Dec. 23.)
No. 703.]
Sir: Referring to my No. 700, of this date, I
have the honor to inclose for your information copy of a letter just
received from Rev. H. O. Dwight, with a copy of my answer thereto.
From its nature your Department will most probably hear of it through
missionary headquarters in America, and the exceptional conditions now
surrounding our people here induce me to inform them in this, as I have
in several other matters, of my action.
The request made by Mr. Dwight that I should ask you to order a
commission to investigate the truth of the charges made against our
countrymen in Bitlis embarrasses me.
Terrorism there has compelled the despairing Armenians to make such
charges as it has, I am informed, at Harpoot. The times are not
propitious for investigation at either place, and we have much reason to
fear that even the Armenians, inspired by fear, would outswear our few
fellow citizens there. I had thought it better to denounce the charge as
a foul calumny, issued to cloak some evil design, and to warn the Porte
that the United States would hold Turkey responsible
[Page 1367]
for the safety of our missionaries. Mr.
Dwight’s long residence and clear knowledge of Turkish character entitle
his opinion to great weight, and it is forwarded for your
consideration.
I will demand on the 5th instant that attacks in the Turkish press on our
missionaries be no longer permitted by the Turkish Government, as
tending to inflame Moslem fanaticism.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure 1 in No.
703.]
Mr. Dwight to Mr.
Terrell.
Bible House, Constantinople, December 2,
1895.
Dear Sir: It has come to my knowledge that
the Sublime Porte is in possession of papers alleged to have been
prepared upon the ground, charging the missionaries at Harpoot with
teaching sedition, and giving specifications of a charge that Bev.
George P. Knapp, of Bitlis, organized and armed the Armenians and
prepared an attack on the mosques of that city, on the 25th of
October, thereby causing the terrible massacre of that date.
Such unfounded statements have already found echo in the Turkish
press, as shown by the extract from the Ghairet, which I sent you
last week. They are diligently circulated among the people, and are
certain, if not refuted, to increase the danger of our friends in
the interior. We all feel that the charges must be fully
investigated.
We therefore beg that you will be so kind as to make, if you see fit,
the following requests to the Ottoman Government:
- First. The texts of the charges against the missionaries
at Harpoot and Bitlis.
- Second. The names of the officials who vouch for these
charges or who have given them to the Porte.
And while this information is being collected, we beg that you will
request our own Government to order the appointment of a commission
for the investigation of these charges, and to demand, when their
calumnious character is proved, the punishment of the originators of
the charges.
Very respectfully,
[Inclosure 2 in No.
703.]
Mr. Terrell to
Mr. Dwight.
Legation of the United States.
Constantinople, December 3, 1895.
My Dear Sir: The charges to which your note
of yesterday referred as made against missionaries at Bitlis are, I
presume, those of which I informed you two days ago as being
unofficially and verbally commucated to my dragoman, Mr. Gargiulo,
at the Porte.
The danger indicated is extreme and caused me to visit the Porte
yesterday. When in the foreign office, I denounced the charges made
against our missionaries at Bitlis as false and manifestly made with
evil design. Of this fact I verbally informed you this morning.
[Page 1368]
I deemed it proper also in that connection to remind the foreign
office that I found it necessary to secure a Turkish guard to
protect missionaries from the revolutionary emissaries of the secret
societies at Marsovan, and had demanded months ago protection for
our missionaries in the provinces of Aleppo and Adana against a like
danger from revolutionists.
I am glad to inform you that a formal note from the foreign office
this morning assured me that stringent orders were received all over
the Empire, in accordance with my written demand on the 18th of
November, for the protection of all foreigners.
I will, as you request, make an effort to secure the names of the
officials who forwarded and vouch for the charges. This may not be
obtained, since the incident has not been officially made known.
The matter referred to has already been communicated to our
Government, and while awaiting its action no means will be here
neglected to impress the Porte with my conviction that the charge
was made by local officials to cloak some evil design, and that the
Turkish Government, being forewarned, will be held responsible for
its consequences.
I hope we approach the end of the terrible tension caused by this era
of blood and suspicion, during which and before it began, as you
know, I have felt the deepest solicitude for the safety of our
countrymen.
I am, etc.,
