No. 479.
Mr. Frelinghuysen to
Mr. Richmond.
Department
of State,
Washington, January 27,
1885.
No. 17.]
Sir: I inclose a letter addressed to you by Mr.
Judson Smith, secretary of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign
Missions, Boston, stating that the east central African mission of the board
has secured a concession of a tract of land near Inhambane Bay, within the
jurisdiction of the Portuguese Government, administered from Mozambique, but
cannot extend their missionary operations in the districts outside, owing to
restrictions of the Mozambique Government. These restrictions, in the
interest of civilization and general enlightenment, they are naturally
anxious to have removed.
The liberal methods adopted by the Portuguese Government heretofore in like
directions encourage the belief that no serious obstacle will be found to
prevent the self-sacrificing efforts of these missionaries being employed in
this wide field. The good designs of the board are evidently too broad to be
classed as sectarian; their purposes are at the farthest possible remove
from political purposes, and their request is commended to your judicious
and friendly good offices, conducted, of course, with due regard to the
established faith in Portugal.
I am, &c.,
[Inclosure in No. 17.]
Mr. Smith to Mr.
Richmond.
Boston,
Mass., January 17,
1885.
Dear Sir: Permit me, in behalf of the American
Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, to make a representation of
facts and to prefer a request:
The East Central African Mission of the Board has recently applied for a
claim to be located on Inhambane Bay within the jurisdiction of the
Portuguese Government administered from Mozambique, and they have
secured a concession of a tract of land
[Page 638]
suitable for the beginning of their work. But they
are restricted in their religious teaching to the few natives whom they
can employ upon the land conceded to them, and can undertake missionary
operations in the districts outside only at the peril or losing their
claim and being driven from the province altogether. There is a large
population within easy reach of their settlement, more than 100,000, who
are entirely without knowledge of the Bible or Christianity, and who
make a powerful appeal to Christian sympathy and help. If the
restriction of the Mozambique Government could be modified or withdrawn
our men would gladly undertake Christian labor in behalf of these
people, and would be ready to give any reasonable pledges of fidelity to
the interests of the Mozambique Government. In this age, when all
heathen nations are open to the Gospel, when Africa stands so
conspicuous in the eyes of the European nations and ail the arts and
industries and commerce of the civilized world are seeking this great
continent, it would seem only right that the supreme blessing of the
great nations should have free access to all the peoples and tribes of
Africa.
In view of these facts, I beg leave to request of you that you will
represent the facts above narrated to the courts at Lisbon, and that you
will use your best offices in inducing His Majesty the King of Portugal
to withdraw the restriction which now rests upon our missionaries on
Inhambane Bay, and to grant to them that freedom of religious teaching
which our missionaries already enjoy in China and Japan, in Turkey and
India. I am sure that His Majesty the King will favorably consider this
request, and that his regard for the opinion of this Government and for
that of the Christian nations of Europe will dispose him to grant
it.
I am happy to be assured that you, my dear sir, will personally favor
this suit of our great mission board, and will use your uttermost
endeavors to secure its favorable reception and early success.
In behalf of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign
Missions.
I am, &c.,
JUDSON SMITH,
Secretary American Board
of Foreign Missions.
