Mr. Tyler to Mr.
Olney.
Legation of the United States,
Teheran, Persia, October
26, 1896. (Received Dec. 3.)
No. 262, Dip. Ser.]
Sir: I have the honor to inclose for your
information copy of a letter I have received from Dr. Holmes, medical
missionary in Hamadan, reporting the death of the Akhund Mullah
Abdullah, who had in the past given the Government considerable trouble
by his interference in executive affairs, and of the peaceful and
orderly state of that town.
In view of the improved condition of the town, I felt I could give the
Government credit for any action they may have taken to bring about that
result, and as I had had occasion to complain of the faults of Mullah
Abdullah, I thought I might now give expression to his virtues as
mentioned by Dr. Holmes, so I addressed the letter to the Sadr Azem, of
which the inclosed is a copy.
I have, etc.,
John Tyler,
Vice-Consul-General in Charge.
[Inclosure 1 in No 262, Dip.
Ser.]
Dr. Holmes to
Mr. Tyler.
Hamadan, October 16,
1896.
Dear Sir: Yours of October 6, inclosing a
copy of your communication to the Sadr Azem, relating to the
condition of the Jews of Hamadan, was duly received with thanks. I
fully agree with you, as
[Page 487]
do we all, in what you say as to the necessity of using great
prudence in bringing up questions of this kind before the Persian
Government. In this case there seemed nobody to blame particularly,
the trouble being with the lawless character of the people, and the
weakness of the authorities. At the time of writing you on the
subject I sent word to Hajji Mirza Mehdi and the Akhund Abdullah,
thanking them for the aid they had rendered in quieting the people,
and asking them to do all in their power to allay the excitement and
to give protection to the persons most threatened. This they
cordially undertook to do, and I am glad to say that since then
everything has been quiet and peaceful.
I regret to say that the Akhund Abdullah passed away to-day from an
attack of paralysis, due to a tumor on the brain, probably, the
symptoms of which have been increasing in their gravity for some
time. Hajji Mirza Mehdi will probably take his place as the chief
ecclesiastic in Hamadan, and I feel confident that he will do all in
his power to protect the Jews from violence. My relations with him,
as with the late Akhund, have, ever since the affair of two years
ago, been very cordial, and I hope they will so continue.
The Akhund called on me just the day before his paralytic seizure,
for consultation, and I attended him during his last illness. He was
a man having many good qualities, and I had learned to look with a
great deal of charity upon many of his doings. I am not sure that he
has not acted, in most things, according to his lights, and think of
him as a well-meaning man.
Thanking you again for your attention to the matter in question, I
am, etc.
[Inclosure 2 in No.
262.]
Mr. Tyler to
the Sadr Azem.
Legation of the United States,
Teheran, October 24, 1896.
Your Highness: In acknowledging the receipt
of your communication of the 6th instant regarding the state of
Hamadan, I have to thank you for the assurances of the preservation
of order and tranquillity in that city.
I also beg to inform you that I have just received a letter from Dr.
Holmes expressing his gratification and thankfulness for the
pacification and present orderly condition of the town. In the same
letter he reports the death of the Akhund Mullah Abdullah, from an
attack of paralysis, caused, he thinks, probably from a tumor on the
brain, the symptoms of which have been increasing in their gravity
for some time. The akhund called on Dr. Holmes for a consultation
the day before the seizure, and he attended him to the last.
Dr. Holmes speaks in terms of commendation of the character of the
late akhund and of his efforts, coupled with those of Hajie Marza
Mehdi, in times of excitement and disorder, to control the passions
and tumults of the populace, and to prevent as far as they could all
danger to the inhabitants and well-being of the town.
I have, etc.,
John Tyler,
Vice-Consul-General in
Charge.
