No. 445.
Mr. Frelinghuysen to Mr. Heap.
Washington, August 19, 1884.
Sir: I have to acknowledge the receipt of your No. 414, of the 18th ultimo, respecting the protection of American citizens in Asia Minor (Armenia) by British consuls, and to inform you that the Department was exceedingly gratified to learn of the very courteous offer made by Lord Dufferin, Her Britannic Majesty’s representative at Constantinople, in reference to the protection by British consular officers of the rights of American citizens engaged in the sale of books in those distant regions of Turkey remote from our consular representatives.
The occasion for such protection seems to have arisen on account of restrictions placed upon the sale of books by the local authorities in Armenia.
The restraint, complained of to the British consular authorities, seems to comprise the mutilation and in some instances the confiscation of their books by the education department of the local authorities, notwithstanding the fact that the books have already passed the censorship at Constantinople.
Her Britannic Majesty’s consul at Erzeroum, Mr. Everett, in his report of the matter to Lord Dufferin, says: “It is probable that in many cases the local authorities have no knowledge of the existence of a Protestant Firman, and that in many others there is entire ignorance of its terms,” and suggests that it might be conducive to the better treatment of the American citizens engaged in the book trade if an order be issued by the Sublime Porte reminding the local authorities in Asia Minor of the rights acquired by the American citizens through the firman, and enjoining them to take care that in the future those engaged in such work be in no way molested.
This suggestion would doubtless, if executed, prove efficacious in many cases. You are therefore instructed to use your good offices to promote such a result.
[Page 574]Citizens of the United States engaged in the sale of books in Turkey should, at all times be willing to show the local authorities that the books offered for sale have passed the censorship at Constantinople, and, to avoid collision with such authorities in the interior, the books should be stamped to show that fact.
It seems to me that the adoption of such measures may gain the respect and confidence of such authorities.
You are authorized to express to Lord Dufferin as well as to Mr. Everett, Her Majesty’s consul at Erzeroum, through him, the thanks of this Department for their kind and courteous intervention on behalf of the Rev. Robert Chambers, an American missionary at Erzeroum.
I am, &c.,