Mr. Eddy to Mr. Ray.
Constantinople, December 15, 1902.
Sir: I have the honor to inform you that Dr. Washburn arrived this morning from Sofia, where he had gone to endeavor, in a quiet manner, to obtain additional information as to why all efforts for Miss Stone’s release have so far been without result.
The Department is doubtless aware that Dr. Washburn’s position with reference to Bulgaria is a unique one. He has been for many years the head of Robert College, near Constantinople, in which institution most of Bulgaria’s leading men have been educated under his personal supervision. He is a man of great force of character and powerful personal magnetism and seems to hold the affection and esteem of his pupils after their graduation. But his strongest hold on the Bulgarian people is owing to the fact they consider him as the “Father of Bulgaria”—that the present liberty and enlightenment of the country are owing to his teachings and to his molding of the young men of a former generation. Dr. Washburn has been at all times most willing and anxious to render any assistance to the Government of the United States in the work of liberating Miss Stone, but it was impossible for him to go into Bulgaria while Mr. Dickinson was there, and such information as he has received through letters could not, of course, be very full or explicit.
I have now the honor, however, to transmit herewith the copy of an official report which he handed to me this morning on his return from Sofia. A copy of this inclosure has been sent to Mr. Dickinson.
You will see that the facts contained in the first paragraph of Dr. Washburn’s report are already known to us. We have always supposed the brigands to be Bulgarian and there is ample evidence to prove that the hand of Saratoff has been at the bottom of this matter. According to my knowledge Boris Saratoff is a young man of 28 years, well educated, of charming manners, and a temperament more or less visionary and fanatical. His object in this case may therefore be either a mistaken sense of patriotism or the pressing need of money. [Page 1016] I have an idea that we shall have more to do with this young man later on, when it comes to the final settlement of the matter.
The second paragraph contains the startling statement that Miss Stone is not now in Bulgaria, nor has she been there. The evidence of this fact, which Dr. Washburn speaks of as being conclusive, is briefly as follows: On his arrival in Sofia he went to the houses of many members of the Government (1. e., the council of state), who had at one time been studying under his direction at Robert College. He talked long and earnestly with each of these men, who, he believes, would be absolutely unable to lie to him. One of his friends took him to a meeting of the council of state, and he remained there for one hour talking to the Bulgarian Government in session. He had interviews with the officer commanding the districts along the frontier and with the heads of the different branches of the police, and these interviews were all with his intimate personal friends—men who are bound to him by feelings of affection, respect, and, perhaps, even fear. * * * In all these interviews and conversations he only received the most emphatic and strong assurances of Bulgaria’s absolute innocence of complicity in Miss Stone’s abduction, and, furthermore, of the present Government’s willingness to do all in their power to assist in her release. Moreover, none of them has any personal fear for her safety were they to resort to any measures, however violent.
That the English and Russian agents at Sofia have been willing and anxious to help Mr. Dickinson I have long been aware through the embassies of these respective Governments here in Constantinople. Unfortunately, there was a slight friction between the Russian agent and Mr. Dickinson, and the English agent believed that his assistance was not required or asked for.
The third paragraph of Dr. Washburn’s memorandum is, of course, self-evident, granting the correctness of the hypotheses from which it is drawn.
The fourth paragraph is also a certainty of which there never was any doubt in my mind from the beginning. There seemed to be but little chance of persuading a new and, if I may use the expression, a vain Government to identify itself with a band of robbers and cutthroats and tacitly admit to the civilized world that they had hired such men for acts of brigandage. Moreover, I may add to Dr. Washburn’s statement the fact that it is in all quarters thought very doubtful whether the brigands will accept anything short of the £25,000 demanded; and it seems to be the sentiment of all my colleagues that the United States should now obtain the additional £10,000 required and then, naturally, bring a claim of indemnity for the whole sum. * * * That is not exactly my own view, but it is the generally expressed opinion of all the chefs de mission.
The fifth paragraph is and has been evident from the first; and as I have sent Mr. Gargiulo and Mr. Peet to the frontier, I think that in this point our actions coincide with Dr. Washburn’s views. The two gentlemen who have undertaken this work willingly and gladly have precisely the knowledge and experience necessary to cause its success. Moreover, great credit is due to them for having been willing to leave their families at Christmas time and go on a mission which is certainly attended with great difficulties, hardships, and perhaps danger.
[Page 1017]The sixth paragraph of Dr. Washburn’s memorandum contains the only statement of his from which I differ in opinion. Precedent, both in Bulgaria and Turkey, would seem to prove the contrary.
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I have, etc.,