Legation of the United States,
Constantinople, Dec. 27, 1895.
(Received Jan. 9, 1896.)
No. 739.][Inclosure 1 in No.
739.]
Mr. Herrick to
Mr. Terrell.
Bible House, December 26, 1895.
Dear Sir: Mr. Dwight informs me that he has
just addressed to you a memorial touching the question of the
protection of American interests in this country. I am aware of the
tenor of his communication and approve of the same at all points. He
undoubtedly represents the judgment of the society under which we
both serve, and of the representations of that society in this
country.
He has suggested my presenting to you a specific matter which presses
upon us, and perhaps peculiarly upon myself—a matter which may be
taken as a corollary to Mr. Dwight’s paper. This is the adequate
protection of our American colony and educational plant and work at
Marsovan.
This plant consists of public buildings and residences—some 12
buildings in all—embracing a theological seminary, Anatolia College
(for boys), and a girls’ boarding school of high grade. Adults and
children, the American colony numbers 20 souls. When the storm broke
upon the city in the middle of November the college and school
premises, with all the American residents and the teachers and
pupils of the schools, about 250 persons in all, escaped harm. We
now have detailed information up to a full month after the massacre,
and although our friends have no complaint to make against the local
government, the fear, the sense of insecurity, the threatenings of
worse things to come, and the resulting excitement among so many
young persons crowded constantly together and under military guard
of redifs created a real and it may be serious danger. * * * object
of this writing is to prefer to your excellency on behalf of my
associates at Marsovan an important request, and if necessary to
urge its acceptance by every consideration of safety to imperiled
American interests. As you are aware, Marsovan is in the Sivas
province and within the United States consular district of Dr.
Jewett. The Americans at Marsovan have asked that Consul Jewett
should come to Marsovan for a time. The reason for delivering this
request, viz, that Mr. Jewett is needed at Sivas, now appears to be
fully met by the presence of the British consul at Sivas.
I respectfully beg you, in behalf of the 20 Americans at Marsovan,
immediately to order Jewett to go to Marsovan, where no consul of
any power is found, to stay till the present strain is over. I
believe, and our friends at Marsovan believe, that as matters now
stand this and this alone, whatever else may be done, will so remove
the strain as to relieve American interests there from peril.
Very respectfully,
[Inclosure 2 in No.
739.]
Mr. Terrell to
Mr. Herrick.
United States Legation,
Constantinople, December 27, 1895.
Sir: Answering your letter of the 26th
instant, I have to inform you that this legation has telegraphed
Consul Jewett to proceed to Marsovan, and there remain for the
present, on account of the request made by yourself and other
representative missionary gentlemen here and of the great peril in
which Americans there now seem to live. His stay
[Page 1422]
from his post will from necessity be
but temporary, nor can I see, as you do, the great benefit likely to
occur from his trip.
My opinion as to what should be done to secure more effectually our
friends in the interior will be given at length to Mr. Dwight.
I am, etc.,
