The guards referred to were ordered on my demand, and were at the time
believed to be needed for that American missionary post.
[Inclosure in No. 841.]
Mr. Cumberbatch
to Sir Philip Currie.
British Consulate,
Erzerum, February 28,
1896.
No. 26.]
Sir: I have the honor to report for the
information of the United States minister that the vali informed me
yesterday that he had received instructions to take such measures as
he thought fit to insure the safety of the lives and property of
American citizens, and that he was prepared to furnish a special
guard for the Rev. W. N. Chambers, missionary of the American Board
of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, if he would provide a room in
his house for their shelter.
At the time of the disorders in this town last autumn, soldiers were,
at my request, posted at Mr. Chambers’s residence, at each of the
American school buildings, and at the houses of the two dragomans of
this consulate, all of which are situated within a stone’s throw of
each other.
When things quieted down the two soldiers thus employed were, at my
suggestion, withdrawn from these houses, because I considered their
presence tended to prevent the desired restoration of confidence in
the minds of the panic-stricken population.
But as that quarter of the town was the one that had been the most
exposed to the excesses committed by the artillerymen then quartered
in the neighboring barracks, I persuaded the military authorities to
establish a special guardhouse in a building having a central
position as regards the above-mentioned houses, and ten soldiers
have been stationed there ever since with one of their number always
standing sentinel outside.
As there appears to be no imminent danger of a recurrence of
disorders in this town, and as it is inconvenient to Mr. Chambers to
have a file of soldiers living in his house, I have settled with the
vali that, in view of the fresh instructions he has received, it
will be sufficient if a lieutenant were placed in charge of the
guard with instructions to act immediately on any emergency
arising.
Mr. Chambers is the only American missionary here, and is a British
subject. He is, however, shortly to be joined by Mr. Macnaughten,
also a British subject, who will reside with him.
The special guards told off to protect the consulates were withdrawn,
with the consent of my colleagues and myself, over three months
ago.
I have, etc.
