Mr. Assistant Secretary of State: I have the
honor to send you herewith the note concerning the matter about which
the minister for foreign affairs has just telegraphed me and over which
I had the honor to talk with you at our last interview.
With great reliance on your good offices to bring about a favorable
answer, and thanking you in advance, I beg you to accept, etc.,
[Inclosure.—Translation.]
The details of the murder of Mr. Lebry [Labaree], an American
missionary, being well known to the State Department, I shall
confine myself to a mere summary for the sake of making the
following statement clearer.
After the murder of Mr. Lebry, near Ooroomiah, the murderer, Mir
Gafar, took refuge on Turkish territory. Upon the order of the
Imperial Government, the authorities of the province established an
active surveillance, which was maintained incessantly for several
months, and brought about his arrest the moment he returned to
Persia. Pie was taken to Teheran, sentenced to imprisonment for
life, and at the same time, a pecuniary indemnity was allowed to the
heirs of the victim.
The legation of the United States at Teheran, acting upon reports
from several missionaries, further alleged that Mir Gafar had been
incited by other persons related to influential tribe chiefs to
commit this murder, and it was agreed to send special delegates to
Ooroomiah and to institute an inquiry in the case.
In spite of the earnest willingness of the authorities and delegates,
the inquiry could not be closed within the stipulated time, which
will expire in a few days, because of—
(1) The relationship of the said persons to the influential tribe
chiefs, which demands caution and very delicate methods to make it
possible to bring them to Ooroomiah; (2) the frontier disputes that
have arisen between Persia and Turkey through the wrongful acts of
those very chiefs; (3) the disturbances in the Caucasus that have to
a certain extent stirred the minds of the population of the
province.
For the above-stated reasons his excellency the minister for foreign
affairs of my Government is satisfied that if the matter be rushed
and armed force resorted to against the said persons at so critical
a stage, an uprising of the tribes may be foreseen that will not
terminate without great bloodshed and loss of life, and deeming,
furthermore, that time and necessary precautions will easily and
surely bring the inquiry to a satisfactory conclusion he has just
telegraphed me to bring the present conditions to the knowledge of
His Excellency Mr. Root, minister of foreign affairs, to the end
that the term previously agreed upon be extended by one year or at
least ten months, so that we may have the time required for a sure
and peaceful settlement of the case.
Furthermore, his excellency the minister for foreign affairs, in view
of the profound friendship existing between the two Governments,
hopes that the Government of the United States will not under the
circumstances precipitate a situation, which, besides causing a
revolt of a part of the population, will create very regrettable
difficulties.
Moreover, the main point in the case having long since been disposed
of to the satisfaction of the Government of the United States, the
minister for foreign affairs is convinced that, with a little more
time, this inquiry, which, in truth, is but of secondary importance,
could also be brought to a successful close with ease and without
stirring the population.
It is more than likely that the matter will be disposed of within six
months, and it is only for the sake of precaution and greater
certainty that the minister for foreign affairs has telegraphed me
about a slightly longer period.
While bringing the foregoing to the knowledge of His Excellency, Mr.
Elihu Root, I hope that realizing with your fine, well-established
penetrations the gravity of my Government’s present plight you will
be pleased to return a favorable answer.
