Mavroyeni Bey to
Mr. Olney.
[Translation.]
Imperial Legation of Turkey,
Washington, April 8,
1896.
Sir: We have received from the Sublime Porte a
copy of a telegram sent by a number of Armenians, merchants, and
notables of the city of Harpoot, complaining of the presence of
missionaries in that city.
I have the honor herewith to transmit to your excellency a translation of
said telegram.
Be pleased, etc.,
[Inclosure.]
Telegram addressed to the first secretary of the
Imperial Palace, to the Grand Vizier, to the minister of foreign
affairs, and to the Armenian patriarch.
The missionaries who came to Harpoot thirty or forty years ago have,
through the influence of their schools, which they claim to have
established
[Page 855]
for the
purpose of benefiting mankind, caused some of the children of the
Armenians to turn aside from the right path, having perverted their
minds and their behavior, incited them to ingratitude and prejudiced
them against the authority of the Ottoman Empire, which has been
established for more than six hundred years, and finally having
caused an abominable state of things to be originated by certain
adventurers. Now, the continued stay of these missionaries in our
country can not fail to disturb peace and public safety, and
inasmuch as, thanks to the Imperial solicitude, schools already
exist for all nationalities, and as, in case other schools are
established the cooperation of the missionaries is unnecessary, we
hereby beg your excellency to make them depart hence at the earliest
possible moment.
(Signed by 60 Armenians.)
