Minister Pearson to
the Secretary of State.
American Legation,
Teheran, April 20,
1905.
No. 113.]
Sir: I have the honor to inclose copies of
further correspondence bearing on the Labaree case, and I wish to direct
special attention to the following statements in a letter addressed to
me by Dr. J. P. Cochran and dated March 22, 1905. Doctor Cochran is
considered the leading spirit among the missionaries at Urumia. He says:
There never was a time in the history of this mission when we
were in so great and constant danger as at the present. To hold
in Teheran two or three of those (Kurds) who have fallen into
the net or even to execute them is exasperating their comrades
here to a most dangerous degree.
I fail entirely to grasp the logic of this conclusion. The chief murderer
and five of his most prominent accomplices are incarcerated here, and
their clansmen in Urumia have been made to understand that the lives of
these prisoners are dependent upon the good behavior of the Kurdish
tribes in Urumia. In the light of common sense and of the common
principles of human nature this condition would seem to be a guaranty of
security rather than a cause of danger to the Christians in Urumia. I
deem it prudent not to press for the final punishment of these criminals
until at least two others of the ringleaders shall have been captured,
and until the excited mental state of the Christian population shall
have resumed its normal calm. But as my views are so radically different
from those of Doctor Cochran and his associates, I feel obliged to ask
for further and specific instructions as to the particular steps that I
should take in the premises. I can readily understand the complaints of
the missionaries and their protests against steps which they have
opposed; but how and why they should complain of steps which they have
urgently advised and which after long and arduous efforts this legation
has finally accomplished I fail utterly to comprehend.
The correspondence in this case shows that the missionaries asked for the
removal of the governor of the province of Urumia. That has been done
and a man of energy and courage has been put in his place.
They asked for the removal of the mudjtabad—the chief Moslem ecclesiastic
of Urumia—represented as the instigator, the head and front of all the
troubles, and after a year’s persistent and urgent demands by the
American and British ministers this * * * Moslem bishop has been
removed.
The missionaries asked for the arrest of the murderer and his
accomplices. All except two of the chief participants in the crime are
now in jail at Teheran. Seven of the men implicated are servants, and a
Persian servant has no independence or sense of personal responsibility;
and I have repeatedly impressed upon the Persian Government that we
desired the punishment of the guilty masters rather than of the ignorant
servants.
The correspondence further shows that the missionaries asked me to
protest to the Persian Government against the presence in Urumia of
Madjd-es-Sultaneh, the agent sent from Tabriz to capture the
accomplices. I declined to comply with this request, and it turned out
that this Madjd-es-Sultaneh, instead of being a man of “evil influence,”
was successful in entrapping by various ruses the most prominent and
influential chiefs among the guilty Kurds.
[Page 729]
Finally, I was asked to obtain the revocation or postponement of the
order removing the Moslem bishop; this I declined to do for the reasons
set forth in my letter to the British minister.
After working for a year to secure the removal of this bad Mullah, I was
unwilling when success was in sight suddenly to reverse my steps and
stultify my previous representations.
From all this the Department will see the necessity of giving me positive
and precise instructions which I shall not fail to execute with
promptness and energy.
I am, etc.,
[Inclosure 1.]
The British Minister
to Minister Pearson.
Dear Mr. Pearson: I inclose to you herewith
a copy of a telegram I have just received rrom Mr. Stevens at
Tabriz, together with the reply which I would propose to send if you
should approve.
Believe, etc.,
[Subinclosure.—Telegram.]
Mr. Stevens to
the British Minister.
Tabriz, February 3,
1905.
At last audience granted by the Valialed detailed in my dispatch of
February 1, prince promised United States consul and myself to
arrest remainder of Kurds implicated in murder. I pointed out to his
highness that Mullah was still at Urumia, and that no measures had
been taken to remove him, notwithstanding positive promise and
engagement to do so. His imperial highness said that question was a
difficult one to deal with, but that he would send me his final
decision on the subject in a few days.
At an unofficial gathering at the Karguzari the Shah’s envoy told the
United States consul that if the removal of the Mullah were
postponed remaining Kurd accomplices in murder would be immediately
arrested.
We both respectfully request your excellency’s approval of above
compromise.
Proposed answer to Mr. Stevens (by British Minister), February, 1905.
I approve compromise proposed by you, but I am strongly of opinion
that removal of Mullah if postponed should not be shirked, and that
he should if possible leave before Moharren.
[Inclosure 2.]
Minister Pearson to the British
Minister.
Teheran, February 5,
1905.
My Dear Sir: I have just received your note
inclosing a telegram from His Britanic Majesty’s Consul Stevens and
a draft of the reply which you would send “if I should approve.”
This is very courteous on your part, but I can not presume to approve
or disapprove the instructions which you deem expedient to send to
your consul.
However, we have been so closely associated with such unreserved
mutual confidence in the conduct of this case that I feel warranted
in saying that while I joined in demanding the removal of this
Mullah the definite promise to remove him is due to your own
energetic and efficient action.
This man has been represented by your people and mine as the head and
front of all the offending.
[Page 730]
To relinquish or defer the advantage which you have gained in this
regard without any correlative benefit, it seems to me is to accept
a new promise instead of the one outstanding without the payment of
interest and without additional security.
Faithfully, yours,
[Inclosure 3.]
Minister Pearson to Doctor Cochran.
American Legation,
Teheran, April 14,
1905.
Dear Sir: I have to acknowledge the receipt
of your letter of March 22. I note that you say: “To hold in Teheran
two or three of those who have fallen in the net or even to execute
them is exasperating their comrades here to a most dangerous
degree.”
I fail to see the logic of your conclusion or the process by which
you arrive at it. On the contrary the tribe knows that the lives of
their comrades imprisoned at Teheran depend upon the good behavior
of the Kurds in Urumia. It would seem that this fact, coupled with
the removal of the mudjtabad and the energetic action of the new
governor, should diminish rather than increase your sense of
danger.
If your reasoning be correct it would lead to the conclusion that you
would feel a greater sense of security if these culprits were
released and allowed to go scot-free.
In any event it would be better for you and your associates to
formulate in specific terms your demands upon the American
Government.
Yours, truly,
[Inclosure 5.]
Extracts from a letter of the Rev. B. Labaree,
of Urumia, dated March 23, 1905.
In my relation of father-in-law to Mrs. Labaree I have naturally seen
the correspondence which has passed between yourself and her, and I
have highly appreciated the energy and ability with which you have
managed the indemnity question; also your generous offer of personal
assistance to her in case of necessity. In spite of Mrs. Labaree’s
strong conscientious convictions against accepting such an amount of
money from the Persian Government, or in fact of any sum whatever,
her friends are profoundly gratified that she is now liberally
provided for as regards the future needs of herself and her
children. * * *
We have simply asked that it should take such steps as it might find
necessary to reestablish us in the security which we have enjoyed in
the past seventy years while engaged in our legitimate work, and in
the absence of such security we have thought ourselves entitled to
make a loud appeal on the matter to our government through you, its
accredited representative to the Persian Government, even to the
point of uttering a protest against action on the part of our
government, which, however wisely intended, increased rather than
diminished the dangerousness of our position.
[Inclosure 6.]
Minister Pearson to Reverend Labaree.
American Legation,
Teheran, April 14,
1905.
Dear Sir: I beg to acknowledge the receipt
of your letter of March 23, which I have carefully considered.
For practical purposes and results it would seem that you and your
associates should state precisely and specifically your demands upon
the American Government. Such demands will receive the prompt and
earnest consideration of this legation.
Sincerely, yours,
