Ambassador Leishman to the Secretary of State .

[Extract]
No. 63.]

Sir: I have the honor to bring to your attention the difficulties lately experienced by certain of our missionaries traveling in the interior of Asia Minor. While these cases appear, fortunately, to be sporadic and any discrimination against our missionaries is denied at the Sublime Porte, at the same time the fact that they have occurred at all and the persistence of the local authorities in their restrictive action makes it incumbent for me to warn the department that the occurrence of such cases, especially under certain conditions, is far from improbable.

The first of these cases concerns Mr. James L. Fowle, who has been for many years connected with the mission at Talas, Cesarea, who is well spoken of by everyone knowing him, and who is familiar with the country. Mr. Fowle has lately been stopped at Angora while on his way to certain localities in connection with his mission work, and in spite of the action of the French consul, whose good offices were exercised in his behalf, he has thus far been prevented from proceeding on his journey. I have made repeated representations at the Sublime Porte with regard to him, and when lately I saw the grand vizier he dictated, in my presence, a telegram instructing the vali to permit Mr. Fowle to travel when and where he wished in the vilayet. But in spite of this, and for no apparent reason, the prohibition appears to have been not yet removed. If I find all other resources without avail, I shall shortly advise Mr. Fowle to travel on the strength of his American passport, after serving notice on the vali that he will be held strictly accountable and responsible for any injury which may befall him, and informing him of the time of his departure, the route he intends to take, and the locality of his destination, a source of action I adopted a few years ago when similar difficulties were encountered by Mr. Cole, of Bitlis.

The other case concerns Mr. McDowell, of the American mission at Van, who has been refused permission to travel in that neighborhood, although such permission was granted within the last few months to Mr. Cole and Miss Ely and others, who encountered no difficulties at the hands of the authorities. (See inclosure 1.) The vali at Van, however, has notified the British vice-counsul, Captain Dickson, who has charge of our interests at Van, that he was forbidden from Constantinople to allow American missionaries to travel in the vilayet. In connection herewith the department is, of course, aware that the work of our missions is essentially among the native Christian population, and that where this population is chiefly Armenian it is almost unavoidable that suspicion fall on our missionaries. Turkish rule is essentially military rule, and almost necessarily so, since the Turks form everywhere, save in two vilayets, a numerical minority.

It is therefore not altogether surprising that as our missionaries work so largely among a disaffected portion of the population that they, too, be regarded with apprehension. And as for some time past the governors of Mosul, Bitlis, and Mush have been complaining to Constantinople that American missionaries from Van, whom [Page 1397] they allege to be a disturbing influence, have been allowed to travel in their districts, certain orders, the exact nature of which I have not yet been able to ascertain, have been sent to the vali of Van, who was and still is well disposed, ordering him to prohibit their traveling in his vilayet. It is most unfortunate that Mr. McDowell, whose work lies among the Assyrian Nestorians of Hakkiari, who are not revolutionaries and against whom no complaint is made, should have been singled out in this prohibition. I am doing my best to have the restriction removed in his case, as in that of Mr. Fowle, and will continue to keep the department informed of any developments which may occur.

I have, etc.,

John G. A. Leishman.
[Inclosure.]

Mr. Geary to Ambassador Leishman .

Sir: With reference to your excellency’s inquiry addressed through Mr. Consul Shipley as to the obstructions placed in the way of American missionaries wishing to travel, I have the honor to report that so far there have been no difficulties raised in this vilayet. During this summer Mr. Cole and Miss Ely paid a visit to outlying stations on Van Lake without let or hindrance, and the government has provided zaptiehs to escort two other American missionaries who passed through Bitlis. In these circumstances I should be inclined to deprecate any action being taken in this vilayet unless difficulties are subsequently encountered by the American missionaries here.

I have, etc.,

Arthur B. Geary.