Mr. McDonald to Mr. Olney.
Teheran, Persia, February 25, 1897.
Sir: Referring to my dispatch No. 278, concerning certain restrictions placed on the introduction of books into Persia, I have the honor to forward further correspondence on the subject. After receiving the response of the foreign minister to my protest, herewith inclosed, I called on his excellency by appointment, and had an interview with him in further elucidation of the matter. I stated to him that my countrymen were complaining of the hindrance and hardship that the order, if executed, would work on their educational and religious operations, and that they were urging me to endeavor to have it rescinded. His excellency responded that so far as books for educational, scientific, and literary purposes were concerned there was no desire or purpose to restrict them, and that the necessary permits would be freely issued; but as to books of a religious character, if designed for distribution among Mohammedans, it would be different; that trouble had been caused in the south of Persia by the distribution by English missionaries of such books, and even money among the Mohammedans, which had greatly excited the mohlus or priests, who are so powerful with the people, and that serious trouble was feared, for which the Government could not be responsible. Therefore it had taken this step to preserve the peace and quiet of the country, and not simply to enforce vexatious conditions on the missionaries. As far as the circulation of religious books among the anti-Mohammedans, Jews, etc., was concerned, there was no purpose or desire to interfere with that.
This is the status of the question at the present moment, and if the Department has any instructions to give concerning it I would be pleased to receive them.
I have, etc.,