Mr. Francis to Mr. Hay.
Athens, November 22, 1901.
Sir: I have the honor to report that during the last few days Athens has been the scene of mob demonstration which yesterday almost assumed the proportions of a revolution. Briefly, the reason for this disturbance was the recent translation and publication in Athens of the Bible in vulgar Greek. Expressions were employed by the translators, which the Hellenes regard as unfit to be printed in the Holy Scriptures. The work was inaugurated and completed with the approval of the Metropolitan, the head of the synod of the Greek Church in Greece.
The students of the university at Athens and the Greeks generally are bitterly opposed to any change in the text of their Bible, which, while of ancient origin and dating back to the Byzantine period, is understood by all and is written in the purest Greek. * * *
Mass meetings were held in front of the university buildings on the afternoons of November 19 and 20, at which violent speeches were made in denunciation of the objectionable biblical translation and of all those identified with it. Large crowds of excited citizens paraded the streets, and the signs were ominous of a serious public demonstration.
Yesterday, November 21, was a fête day. The shops and factories were closed and the streets were thronged with all classes of people. A public demonstration was announced to take place in the afternoon, in which it was advertised that the different labor unions would participate. Fearing the result, the Government ordered out all the military troops in the city, and 800 marines were brought to Athens from the Greek men-of-war at Piraesus. Infantry, cavalry, and large bodies of gendarmes were posted at different points in the city and a cordon of marines was thrown about the palace.
This show of military force had the effect of aggravating the situation, and late in the afternoon the expected collision took place between the authorities and the aroused Athenians. The mob, now numbering over 25,000, proceeded to the ministry of finance and demolished the windows of the building. Thereupon, shots were fired upon the crowd by police officers and employees of the ministry. The rioters responded with pistols and stones, and were only dispersed after a cavalry charge and several carbine volleys. A few minutes later another mob demonstration was made in front of the residence of the premier, Mr. Theotaky, and again the troops and gendarmes made use of their rifles to clear the streets.
The casualties were as follows: Eight killed and upward of 60 wounded. The dead bodies and 32 of the wounded were carried to the municipal hospital. Probably as many more were wounded, but escaped identification, as they were conveyed by friends to their respective homes. That the casualties were not greater may be explained by the fact that the soldiers were unquestionably in sympathy with the sentiments of the rioters, and did not direct their fire upon the crowds, the effective shooting being done by the police or gendarmes.
[Page 251]After a conference had been held during the night between King George and the members of the ministry and prominent citizens, the resignation of the Metropolitan, the titular head of the church in Greece, was accepted at 4 o’clock this morning (November 22). By royal decree, signed at the same hour, the director of police and the prefect of police were both removed and their positions filled by new appointees. The Government printing office issued an edition of the Official Gazette at 6 o’clock a. m. containing the above announcements.
The burial of the victims of yesterday’s conflict took place this afternoon. Many thousands of people followed the single funeral procession to the cemetery, every shop in Athens was closed, and on all sides profound regret and grief were expressed at the outcome of yesterday’s tragedy.
I have, etc.,