Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, With the Annual Message of the President Transmitted to Congress December 7, 1896, and the Annual Report of the Secretary of State
Mr. Terrell to Mr. Olney.
Constantinople, February 9, 1896. (Received Feb. 25.)
Sir: I have the honor to inclose for your information a report from Consul Jewett on affairs at Marsovan. He was permitted to come to this city for consultation at the request of American missionaries.
I have, etc.,
Mr. Jewett to Mr. Short.
Sir: I would respectfully submit a brief report on the condition of affairs as I found them at Marsovan.
For several years the position of the American missionaries at Marsovan has been a peculiarly trying one. They have been the object of [Page 849] calumnious attacks on the part of the Turks because of the unjust-suspicion that they were teaching sedition, and at the same time the Armenian revolutionists have attempted to injure the Americans because of the strong position they have taken against the revolutionists and because the revolutionists were desirous of forcing our Government to interfere on account of some injuries sustained by the college really or apparently at the hands of the Turks.
The Americans have succeeded in breasting the storm by carefully excluding teachers or pupils of revolutionary tendencies from the college, throwing the college open to the inspection of the local government, and by maintaining at all times a strong attitude against the revolutionary movement.
Quite recently the students of the college have been informed that no one would be allowed to enjoy the privileges and protection of the college unless they solemnly promised to refrain from all seditious work, and they made the promise. Also from time to time the faculty has compelled the students to give up every form of firearms or weapon. A recent careful search of that sort resulted in finding six or seven pistols of little value. It should be noted that many of the students come from distant villages and regard the carrying of some weapon as a necessary safeguard for their protection on the road.
The grave disorders which recently swept over Anatolia occurred at Marsovan also, and brought into most trying prominence the difficulties and dangers of the Americans there.
Acting on the orders of United States Minister Terrell, I visited Marsovan to investigate the state of affairs there and to do what I could to improve the condition. I learned that when the massacre occurred at Marsovan, November 15, the mob started for the American premises, but were restrained by police and soldiers, who were ordered, in accordance with demands made by Minister Terrell, not to permit any harm to occur to the Americans. Also, shortly after the disorder began, the governor came in person, with about thirty soldiers commanded by a lieutenant, and placed them as a guard on the college premises, at the disposal of the missionaries. Two or three bullets, fired from a distance, struck one of the school buildings, and great anxiety was felt by all on the premises. However, no injuries were sustained by Americans or their property.
As the condition of the city became more tranquil, the number of soldiers was reduced to fifteen, which is the number now present.
The soldiers are “redifs” of that district who have had very little training, and inasmuch as they have been more or less closely associated with the recent massacres and pillage, and in the event of renewed disturbances might be called upon to resist fellow-townsmen, it might be well, if any change is deemed desirable in the character of the guard, to have regular soldiers from another province. No special fault can be found with the conduct of the present guard on the mission grounds. They have conducted themselves with propriety, and the lieutenant in command has seemed particularly anxious to do his duty by the Americans.
At first the soldiers and the students mutually feared each other, but on further acquaintance both have acquired more confidence, and quite friendly relations now exist between them.
A special source of danger for the college and its American faculty resulted from the persistent efforts of the revolutionary Armenians to create revolutionary sentiments among the students, and it was feared that the revolutionists of the city might do something to injury [Page 850] the college. To more effectually guard against these dangers which were apprehended both by the Americans and by the local Turkish officials, the keeping of the gate was placed under the double charge of the lieutenant and the missionaries. One of the missionaries for several weeks—a brave missionary lady—stood by the gate and prevented the admission of any person likely to do harm to the institution, and all communication between the people of the city and the students was subjected to a rigid surveillance.
These precautions doubtless had a good effect, although they tended to increase the animosity of the revolutionists. I gave the revolutionists to distinctly understand that any interference with the affairs of the college or students would not be tolerated, and that any further efforts of that sort on their part would make them liable to the severest punishment. Before I left Marsovan I was pleased to learn that there was a strong and growing sentiment among the Armenians against the revolutionary committee, and that some of them were endeavoring to escape from the country.
There were a few students in the college who showed a too active sympathy with the revolutionary movement. It seemed difficult to get rid of them at this time without subjecting them to more grave suspicion or punishment than would perhaps be just. However, the mutessarif took a friendly view of the matter and gave them safe conduct and passports for Constantinople.
Both the mutessarif and kaimakam have shown themselves very well disposed toward the college and the Americans, and have apparently done their best to further the interests of our citizens.
The question of sending away all the students was discussed. It was considered best that they should remain so long as the conditions continue as favorable for work as at present.
In regard to the missionaries leaving the interior of the country, it is considered that the spiritual, educational, and relief work is too important to be abandoned, and that their obligations to do all that is proper for the native Christian populations necessitates their remaining.
I have urged that some of the women and children whose presence is not necessary should leave the country. It should be done gradually so as not to create alarm or make it appear as though the Americans had lost confidence in the ability and readiness of their Government to protect them.
I brought with me to Constantinople two missionary children, and probably others will follow, if traveling is practicable.
In conclusion I would say that the strong and energetic policy of protection of American missions which has been adopted by the Department of State and the minister at Constantinople should not in the least be relaxed.
I am, etc.,
- Written at Constantinople.↩