File No. 189/8–10.
Ambassador Leishman
to the Secretary of State.
American Embassy,
Constantinople, June 12,
1907.
No. 298.]
Sir: With further reference to my dispatch No.
285, of the 4th instant,a
relative to recent cases of brigandage in Turkey, I now have the honor
to inclose a petition which has reached me on this subject, signed by
American residents in Smyrna and transmitted to me by our consul in that
city, together with the copy of a note I have sent to the Sublime Porte
on this subject. In connection herewith I would state that as the matter
appears to me to pertain to the internal condition of the Ottoman
Empire, I did not feel warranted in going further than I have done, and
I trust that the tenor of my note may commend itself to the approval of
the department.
The evil of brigandage is one to which Turkish subjects are far more
exposed than foreigners, as the brigands are aware of the fact that the
same energetic steps will not be taken in case of the capture of the
former. While it is unfortunate that the General conditions of security
in Turkey are not what they ought to be, at the same time it can not be
said that any American business interests are imperiled, as liability to
capture is chiefly confined to residents on farms in isolated country
districts. As the matter, however, has of late assumed greater
proportions, it seems probable that the Turkish authorities will again
take energetic steps with a view to its suppression. Already they appear
to have done so, and have lately captured the brigand chief who had
taken Baron van Heemstra (mentioned in my previous dispatch on this
subject), and have recovered some Lt. 1,600 of the ransom, which was
found upon the chief’s person.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure 1.]
Petition of American citizens
in Smyrna to Consul Harris.
Sir: We, the undersigned members of the
American colony, having in mind the danger from murderous bands of
brigands infesting the Vilayet of Aiden, who frequently attack
persons having business in the interior if such person venture
beyond the actual confines of the cities, do now therefore request
that you communicate with his excellency the American ambassador at
Constantinople and expose these facts.
In the official position which you hold you will doubtless have been
apprised of the frightful atrocities lately perpetrated in the
Odemish district on innocent peasants by bands of brigands. You will
recall the murder of a peaceful farmer and the capture of his two
nephews near Kuluk last year, the capture of the manager of the
Baltazzi Chiflik within twelve months, and the premium put upon
brigandage by the recent payment of a heavy ransom to prevent the
murder and obtain the release of a young Dutch farmer quietly
pursuing his vocation near Smyrna.
[Page 1072]
Aside from brigandage, the Vilayet is composed of a peaceable and
law-abiding community, who are principally merchants and farmers,
but business is seriously hampered by the numerous bands of
brigands, and little or no effort is put forth by the Turkish
authorities to exterminate this evil.
We do therefore request that a copy of this petition be forwarded to
the American ambassador and also to the President of the United
States, and we herein do petition the representative of our
Government in Turkey to demand from the Sublime Porte that all
brigands be caught and hung or forced to leave the country without
delay. And we do further request that the President of the United
States will give his official support to the efforts of the American
ambassador in our behalf.
We believe similar petitions are being sent to their diplomatic
representatives by other foreign colonists residing in and about
Smyrna.
We are, etc.,
- E. J. Daves.
- F. Blackler.
- Rufus W. Lane.
- J. D. Langdon.
- Alexander Maravias.
- Anthony F. Prossen.
- M. E. Lambichy.
- C. W. Lawrence.
- Charles K. Tracy.
- S. L. Caldwell.
- Antony F. Binson.
- John H. Offley.
[Inclosure 2.]
Ambassador Leishman to the Minister for
Foreign Affairs.
American Embassy,
Constantinople, June 12, 1907.
Mr. Minister: I have the honor to call your
excellency’s notice to the recurrence of numerous acts of brigandage
in the Vilayet of Aiden, which have of late disturbed the peace of
that province, and to request your excellency to be so good as to
bring to the attention of the competent departments of the Imperial
Government the urgent advisability of taking the proper steps to
remedy this evil, which is equally detrimental to Ottoman subjects
and to foreigners. While it is agreeable for me to bear witness to
the energetic zeal which has distinguished certain of His Majesty’s
officers, and notably General Said Pasha, in their efforts to
suppress the brigands and to the recent success in capturing the
brigand chief, who had taken Baron Van Heemstra, I trust that in the
interest of the entire community these efforts may speedily be
followed up by further measures directed against the brigand bands,
in order that General tranquillity and security may again be
restored to the vilayet and that the normal conditions favorable to
commerce may once more be enjoyed by Americans resident therein.
I take, etc.,
