Mr. Terrell to Mr.
Olney.
Legation of the United States,
Constantinople, November 27,
1896. (Received Dec. 14.)
No. 1078.]
Sir: I have the honor to inclose the copy of a
letter from President George Washburn, of Robert College, asking a
dismissal of the guard for that college, and my reply thereto.
A telegram just received announcing a conflict between Turkish troops in
Alisgird and Armenians, and the manifest apprehension of the Turkish
Government that disturbances have not ceased, prevent me from demanding
unconditionally the dismissal of the guard.
If our citizens and Armenian students at the college should be killed
through the absence of a guard, when the Turks regarded its continuance
as necessary, it would require much explanation to relieve me from
censure.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure 1 in No.
1078.]
Dr. Washburn to
Mr. Terrell.
Robert College, November 26, 1896.
My Dear Judge Terrell: We have been hoping
to see you up here every day since you promised to come and spend a
night with us. I had also hoped to be able to go down and see you
this morning, but things always take up an unexpected amount of
time, so that I must give it up and bid you good-bye by letter. We
go by the French boat this p.m. to Beirut and Egypt for two or three
months.
I wanted to see you also in regard to the Turkish soldiers still on
the premises. I think it is quite time that they were removed, and I
should be much obliged to you if you would ask their removal. They
have probably been forgotten by the palace, and it is very
undesirable for them to establish the right of having soldiers on
our premises by keeping them here. Dr. Long quite agrees with me in
this matter.
I am very sorry that my illness has made it impossible for me to go
and see you oftener. I have the most sincere sympathy with you in
all of your trials and perplexities, as you know, and I should have
been very glad to go often to make my sympathy apparent.
With kindest regards, etc.,
[Page 875]
[Inclosure 2 in No.
1078.]
Mr. Terrell to
Dr. Washburn.
My Dear Dr. Washburn: Referring to your
note of this morning, I will inform the minister of police under
whose orders the guard was placed at Robert College, that you no
longer desire it, and he will be requested to remove it unless he
has reason to fear a fresh outbreak of violence which would endanger
the inmates.
To demand peremptorily, as a right, the removal of that guard is a
responsibility I can not assume if informed by the minister of
police that a renewal of violence is feared. Troops still patrol in
large numbers the streets of the city as you know, and Consul
Bergholz wires me to-day of a conflict in Alisgird.
Only two days ago in a long interview with the Grand Vizier, he
calmly stated that Robert College and the American missionaries had
started sedition and were alone responsible for its results. I told
him with equal calmness that the charge had no foundation, that my
countrymen were good men who taught obedience to law, and that this
charge originated with Armenian revolutionists who desired to
embroil the United States in Turkish affairs. He was reminded that
this was part of the scheme revealed to Dr. Cyrus Hamlin three years
ago.
The same charge against our people is made from time to time by the
Turkish minister at Washington. Everything indicates that the Turks
believe it, and for me to demand in this critical hour that your
college be left with no guard is a responsibility I dare not assume,
if the minister of police still apprehends danger.
I desired much to see you before you left, but can not. Exacting
duties employ me day and night. Your sympathy in a period of much
responsibility and disquiet I properly appreciate, and hope you will
return from Egypt with health restored.
Truly, yours,
