The Emir-i-Nizam to the
Foreign Minister.
Teheran, Zeekadeh 24, 1315 (April 16, 1898).
No. 5.]
As Ali Riza Beg, Turkish consul, suspected Mihran Bagdasarian of
concealing revolutionaries (Armenian) and produced some reasons and
evidence in support of his representations, it was necessary to instruct
the governor of Khoi to send him with all respect under escort to
Tabriz, where, with the assistance of the foreign office agency and the
English consulate, an investigation of the case may be made, and the
truth or falsity of the charge that he had given refuge to
revolutionaries be determined; and at the same time his claim to the
s:atus of United States citizenship be also examined into.
Under the circumstances, if you think it advisable to cancel the order to
bring him to Tabriz, send orders to that effect. Furthermore, if the
United States legation will undertake that Mihran shall come himself and
undergo examination he can be released from custody.
Emir-i-Nizam.
[Page 522]
[Inclosure 3 in No. 21.]
Mr. Tyler to the
Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Legation of the United States, April 11, 1898.
Sir: The English consul in Tabriz has just
informed me by telegraph that the Emir-i-Nizam has unjustly and
without any apparent reason imprisoned at Kalassar, in Salmas, the
Rev. Mihran Bagdasarian, a citizen of the United States, who, so far
as I can learn, is engaged in succoring and protecting the helpless
and starving Nestorians and Armenians, who have found it necessary
to cross the frontier from Turkey into Persia. I beg to protest most
strongly against this proceeding on the part of the Emir-i-Nizam,
and to request that you will immediately telegraph to him to release
M. Bagdasarian and require him to explain his conduct in taking this
extreme measure, in order that I may know how to act and advise my
Government in the matter. This gives the occasion to remind your
excellency that Mirza Hussein Khan Mir Fanj is still in Teheran, and
the Emir-i-Nizam’s tyranny and oppression are allowed to go on
unexposed and unchecked. I hope you will find it convenient to send
Mirza Hussein Khan to Oroomiah to take up the appointment of
Sarperast as soon as possible, that there may be some security for
the protection of the rights and liberties of foreigners residing in
those regions.
I take this opportunity, etc.,
[Inclosure 4 in No.
21.—Translation.]
Mr. Tyler to the
Minister for Foreign Affairs.
Legation of the United States, April 11, 1898.
Sir: I have the honor to inclose a telegram
received last evening from Salmas regarding the unjust imprisonment
of Mihran Bagdasarian, a United States citizen. Your excellency will
know that to imprison a foreign subject without any apparent cause
is a most serious proceeding, and it is with still greater surprise
and regret that I find from the telegram that the governor of Khoi
has summoned W. Bagdasarian to that town without signifying the
charge for which he has been arrested. I trust your excellency has
sent imperative orders for the immediate release of M. Bagdasarian,
and I shall be glad if you will let me know as soon as possible the
result.
I take this opportunity, etc.,
[Inclosure 5 in No.
21.—Translation.]
Mr. Tyler to the
Minister for Foreign Affairs.
Legation of the United States,
Teheran, April 18, 1898.
Sir: From a telegram which I received last
evening, I am very much surprised to find that the Emir-i-Nizam has
not only ignored your telegram, ordering Bagdasarian’s release, but
has had him brought to Tabriz as a prisoner, thereby violating
treaty rights and doing great injustice to the man. Bagdasarian has
now been a prisoner for more [Page 523] than a week without any charge being made against him, or any
report of his misconduct made to the legation. Your excellency must
know that I can not permit this to continue, and that unless he is
released without any further delay, I shall have to telegraph for
instructions to my Government.
Receive, etc.,
[Inclosure 6 in No.
21.—Translation.]
Assistant Minister for Foreign
Affairs to Mr. Tyler.
Teheran, Zeekadeh 27, 1315 (April 20, 1898.)
Sir: I have to acknowledge the receipt of
your letter relating to the coming of Bagdasarian to Tabriz. It
seems that the object you had in view was to prevent his coming, but
as it happened he arrived at that city before the foreign office had
taken measures to prevent it. Now it would seem better to wait
before making other representations until after the examination has
taken place.
Receive the assurance, etc.,
[Inclosure 7 in No.
21.—Translation.]
Mr. Tyler to the
Ehtesham-Es-Saltanch.
Legation of the United States,
Teheran, April 20, 1898.
Sir: I have to acknowledge the receipt of
your letter of yesterday regarding the imprisonment of Mihran
Bagdasarian and his forcible removal to Tabriz to answer a charge
hitherto neither formulated nor stated against him. This is a most
irregular proceeding and ought never to be done except in case of
danger to public order and the state. You remark that my object was
to have Bagdasarian liberated without being brought to Tabriz, but
that he was on his way before the foreign office took measures to
prevent it. If, however, action had been taken when I reported the
matter on the 19th of Zeekadeh, the journey to Tabriz would have
been prevented. If Bagdasarian has committed any crime against law
and order the legation is quite willing that he should be tried by
proper judicial process, but you must know that if it were advisable
to liberate him in Salmas it is just as right that he should be set
free in Tabriz. There is no justification for keeping him a prisoner
because he has been wrongfully brought to Tabriz; it is an
aggravation of the offense. Every man ought to be considered
innocent until he has been proved guilty, but you appear to think
that the fact of his being a prisoner is sufficient to establish the
offense. What I have been anxious for was that Bagdasarian should be
put upon his trial free from prejudice and suspicion, but that is
impossible as long as he is a prisoner. In order to avoid any
further complications, I must request you to give immediate orders
to the Emir-i-Nizam to afford him every advantage which, as an
innocent man and a foreign subject, he is entitled to.
I have, etc.,
[Page 524]
[Inclosure 8 in No. 21.]
M. Bagdasarian to
Mr. Tyler.
Orphan Home, Kala Sar
Salmas, April 5,
1898.
Dear Sir: I most thankfully acknowledge the
receipt of your letter dated the 17th of March, which was handed to
me yesterday, and I express herewith my sincere and profound
gratitude for kindness bestowed on us by you in our dire hour of
need. I am glad to tell you that, owing to your kind interference in
behalf of us, the waves of trouble did not reach as far as Kala Sar
to torment us, but other Armenian villages suffered a great deal
during the whole time of searching after imaginary bands of
revolutionaries. Some poor refugees were arrested only who have been
later set at liberty by special orders from Tabriz. I am sorry I
could not help our own teacher in the village of Khosrova, Heand
Gerakosian, because he was a Turkish subject, and the British
consul-general at Tabriz declined to interfere in his behalf. He is
still kept in chains at the state prison at Khoi, but he is quite an
innocent man. Mr. Stevens, Her Majesty’s consul-general, acting at
Tabriz, was very kind indeed toward us in all their troubles, and we
are very much obliged to him for all his valuable efforts to help
us. By high and urgent orders from Tabriz, all the trouble of
investigation was stopped at once, and now everything is quiet as
before.
Yours, faithfully,
