Mr. Terrell to Mr.
Olney.
Legation of the United States,
Constantinople, October 24,
1895. (Received Nov. 11.)
No. 652.]
Sir: I have the honor to inform you that the
grand vizier has renewed emphatic orders for bringing the man Guedjian
to this city. I feel confident that he will be delivered to me with
orders for him to leave Turkey. I inclose extract from a letter from
Consular Agent Poche regarding the action of the governor, and also a
copy of my note of the 23d to the foreign office suggesting the removal
from office of the governor, unless the Ottoman Government was prepared
to assume responsibility for his conduct.
The grand vizier had personally assured me of his renewed order to bring
Guedjian to this city, and of him I had verbally demanded the removal of
the governor, whose conduct has become obnoxious to Americans.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure 1 in No.
652.]
Mr. Poche to Mr.
Terrell.
Mr. Minister: Yesterday I had the honor to
address your excellency the following telegram:
Having demanded inspection passport, permission interview
Guedjian, in conformity with telegram of 24th, vali informs
me grand vizier telegraphs he has given instructions by
letter, which has not yet arrived.
In explanation of this dispatch I should say to your excellency that
the reason for the vali, Hassan Pasha, refraining from answering me
in writing, and his telling me that the telegraphic order of the
grand vizier refers to instructions sent by letter, is only to gain
time while he puts himself in communication with the grand vizier in
order to induce him to reconsider his decision, as this is really a
reprimand for his refusal to accede to my first demands, and
constitutes a satisfaction to our Government, ever jealous of the
rights of its citizens, a thing the vali wishes to avoid at any
cost. He also desires to prevent the prisoner from reporting what
took place during their interviews. Yesterday 16 of the 23 Armenian
prisioners who had not shared in the amnesty were set free, as their
terms had expired.
The Government continues to mass troops at Suedieh, and seems to fear
that grave events will take place in that region. The situation is
once more troubled; fanaticism excites and safety seems
compromised.
Of the 2,000 recruits who were collected at Alexandretta to be
embarked several hundred mutinied and escaped to the mountains,
[Page 1311]
where they fought among
themselves and several were wounded. Troops have left here in great
haste for Alexandretta to restore order.
* * * * * *
[Inclosure 2 in No.
652.]
Terrell to
Said Pasha.
United States Legation,
Constantinople, October 23, 1895.
No. 91.]
Sir: I have the honor to call your
excellency’s attention to the unwarranted violation of treaty rights
in the case of Melcoun Guedjian, an American citizen, who has been
for some months confined at Aleppo. Guedjian was tried by a Turkish
tribunal and sentenced to a long term of imprisonment on a charge of
sedition, but the American consular agent at Aleppo was not informed
of his arrest nor of the charges against him. When he accidentally
learned of the man’s imprisonment, and tried to see him in order to
investigate whether he was still entitled to American protection,
they informed him that he could not be permitted even to see
Guedjian. Although subsequently His Highness Saïd Pasha, grand
vizier, at my request and in my presence dispatched orders to the
vali, instructing him to allow the consular agent an opportunity of
conversing with Guedjian and examining into his claim of American
protection, the vali still refused and asserted that he would take
the responsibility for his action upon himself. As such action is
contrary to the assurances given me at the Sublime Porte, I would
suggest that unless the Ottoman Government is willing to assume the
responsibility for such illegal action the conduct of its
disobedient official should be disavowed, and I therefore demand of
your excellency the removal from office of the vali of Aleppo.
Be pleased, excellency, to observe that the responsibility for this
illegal action must rest either with the Ottoman Government or with
its faithless official.
In connection with this case, I beg leave to call your excellency’s
attention to my notes No. 83, of September 21; No. 84, of September
23, and No. 86, of September 28, 1895.
Receive, etc.,
