Chargé Jay to the
Secretary of State.
American Legation,
Constantinople, January 5,
1905.
No. 969.]
Sir: Referring to my previous dispatches upon
the subject of Bible colportage in Turkey, I have the honor to inclose
herewith copy of a note identique received by both this legation and the
British embassy in which it is stated that colportage or religious books
has been prohibited throughout the Empire, owing to the propaganda
carried on by the colporteurs, and that the sale of these books is
henceforth restricted to shops and depots at fixed places.
As will have been seen in my previous dispatch upon this subject, this
action on the part of the Turkish Government is in direct violation of
the definite statement made by the grand vizier to the British chargé
d’affaires and myself that colportage was to be permitted in the streets
of towns, and in their neighboring villages; which statement was duly
reported by us to our respective governments.
After consulting with my British colleague, who had previously called
upon the grand vizier immediately following the receipt of this note,
and after ascertaining the attitude he had assumed, as well as that
adopted by the grand vizier, I to-day had a long interview with his
highness upon this subject.
I reminded him that on June 22, 1882, the American minister, General
Wallace, had notified the Sublime Porte (Note No. 118) that he had been
authorized by his government to withdraw a large indemnity claim for
seizure of Bibles and interference with colporteurs on condition that
the Turkish Government apologized for its action and undertook that
there be no further interference with this work; that on March 22, 1883,
the Sublime Porte had replied to this note, expressing regret at these
incidents, and agreeing that in consideration of the withdrawal of this
indemnity claim no interference would occur in the future, to which note
the legation replied in its No. 156 of March 30, 1883, withdrawing the
claim upon the above distinct understanding.
I further reminded his highness, that at the suggestion of the American
legation and British embassy the Turkish Government had in 1888 drawn up
regulations governing colportage. These regulations having been
carefully observed by the American Bible Society’s agents, the present
decision to stop colportage violated the Turkish Government’s own laws
upon the subject. I reiterated my previous statements that these
colporteurs had been strictly enjoined to confine themselves to the mere
sale of the Bible, and I desired to be shown a single case by which the
assertions of the Turkish Government that these men indulged in
propaganda while selling their books could be proved to be founded on
fact and not on fiction.
The grand vizier has evidently somewhat weakened, as his attitude is less
firm than that he assumed with the British chargé d’affaires
[Page 902]
immediately after the dispatch
of the note, since he informed me that it was now intended to soften
(adoucir) the decision embodied in the note identique. He stated that,
nevertheless, it was impossible for the Imperial Government to allow
colporteurs to wander freely over the countryside, as the government was
convinced that in many cases these colporteurs were also acting as
revolutionary agents. He informed me that among the books of a
colporteur arrested yesterday, near Monastir, were found many seditious
pamphlets. * * * Also that within the past few days a notorious Armenian
revolutionary agent had been arrested at Moush having in his possession
papers showing him to be in active correspondence with the head of the
American school at Van or Bitlis, his highness could not remember which.
He begged me to ask my government how it was possible for the Imperial
Government, which is having the utmost difficulty in keeping its
subjects of various creeds from flying at each others’ throats, to allow
irresponsible colporteurs to circulate unwatched throughout the country,
especially the disturbed districts.
I replied that I understand it to be the intention of the British
Government to tacitly consent to the temporary prohibition of colportage
throughout seriously disturbed districts, and that I felt inclined to
believe that the American Government, being animated by the broadest and
highest sense of justice, would favorably consider my suggestion that a
similar course be adopted. I reminded his highness, however, that all
our recent cases of interference had occurred in districts officially as
well as actually peaceful, and that in this respect our society’s
position differed from that of the British society, whose principal
field of activity lay in the Macedonian vilayets.
After taking leave of the grand vizier I had a prolonged discussion on
this matter with the minister for foreign affairs and the legal adviser
of the Sublime Porte, but have nothing further to report as the
minister’s personal views must necessarily be subservient to those of
the grand vizier. My object was to convince him of the necessity of
impressing upon the grand vizier that the religious tolerance in Turkey
so much vaunted by the Imperial Government would seem a farce to the
American and British public should these measures against the sale of
the Bible be actually put into force.
I have informed both the grand vizier and the minister for foreign
affairs, that it is quite impossible for me to accept the decision
contained in the note without the permission of my government, to whom I
had referred it; this being the precise course taken by my British
colleague.
I shall to-morrow address a note to the Sublime Porte confirming my
conversation of to-day.
Doctor Bowen, the able agent of the Bible Society in the Levant, is much
stirred up over this matter and is requesting me to demand an indemnity
for the various cases of seizures of Bibles and other interference. I do
not feel justified in so doing without the Department’s approval, and I
therefore beg to be instructed upon this point.
Doctor Bowen also insists that I should authorize the colporteurs at
Trebizond, etc., who have been distinctly forbidden by the local
authorities to colporter under pain of imprisonment, to proceed with
their work, and to instruct the consuls to protect them against the
authorities by means of consular kavasses, if necessary. These
colporteurs being all Ottoman subjects, such protection would probably
[Page 903]
cause very serious
complications; the British embassy has refused to protect their
society’s Ottoman colporteurs in this manner, and I have also been
unable to comply with Doctor Bowen’s request, pending the receipt of
instructions upon this point which I now solicit you.
Such a high-handed action as the forcible protection of purely Ottoman
subjects in the execution of work expressly and personally forbidden
them by their own authorities, however unjust and wrong such prohibition
may seem to some, would appear to be too grave a matter for me to carry
out without the explicit approval of the Department. I inclose copy of
my instructions to the consul at Trebizond, in which I authorize him to
use his good offices on behalf of these Ottoman colporteurs. * * *
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure
1.—Translation.]
The Minister for Foreign
Affairs to Minister Leishman.
Sublime Porte,
Ministry for Foreign
Affairs,
July 26,
1904.
note verbale.
The agents of the American Bible Society indulge in Turkey in the
spreading of religious books by selling them by means of persuasion
in the streets and public places at very low prices (prix dérisoire)
and even giving them away gratis.
As colportage with the object of religious propaganda can not be
permitted, the Imperial Government has decided to prohibit it in the
future.
Having the honor of bringing this decision to the attention of the
United States legation, the ministry for foreign affairs requests
that it will be good enough to so inform those interested.
[Inclosure
2.—Translation.]
Minister Leishman to the Minister for
Foreign Affairs.
American Legation,
Constantinople, September 27, 1904.
note verbale.
The American legation has received the note verbale No. 18, of the 26
July, 1904, which the department of foreign affairs has done the
honor to forward, informing the legation that the agents of the
American society try to propagate religious books in streets and
public places at derisory prices or giving them away gratis; that as
religious propaganda through colportage can not be allowed, the
Imperial Government had decided to forbid it, and therefore the
department for foreign affairs asks the legation to inform of this
those who are interested.
The American legation did not fail to communicate the contents of the
said note to the Levant agency of the American Bible Society, whose
agent informs the legation that the work of the American Bible
Society is the distribution exclusively of the Bible or its parts, a
book considered divine and sacred not only by all Christians, but by
adherents of other religions also. The American Bible Society, as
its name well indicates, does not distribute other religious books,
and is an undenominational society whose purpose is not and can not
be religious propaganda. Its colporteurs are not authorized to sell
in streets or public places any other religious books except the
Bible or its parts. Moreover, the colporteurs of the said society
have been instructed to conform to the above-mentioned
principles.
While bringing to the knowledge of the department of foreign affairs
the above facts, the American legation would like to point out that
the American Bible Society, which is one of the first and best-known
benevolent institutions in America, has carried on its peaceful work
in Turkey without interference for the last sixty years, and this
legation can not see any reason why its benevolent work should in
any way be limited. The legation is not aware that the Imperial
Ottoman Government has taken any measures in limiting the work of
any similar society belonging to or protected by any other nation,
and it trusts that, notwithstanding the reports of some local
officials, the Sublime Porte, after hearing the full explanation of
the agent of the Bible Society as embodied in this note verbale,
will abstain from
[Page 904]
taking
any discriminating measures against an American society, will raise
any interdiction that may have been decided, and will allow it to
carry on its benevolent work in the same way as it has done for the
last sixty years.
[Inclosure 3.]
Chargé Jay to
the Minister for Foreign
Affairs.
American Legation,
Constantinople, December 24, 1904.
Your Excellency: Referring to the several
notes of this legation in regard to the benevolent and legitimate
work of the American Bible Society carried on in Turkey for the last
sixty years, I have the honor to inform your excellency that
notwithstanding the formal promises made to me by the Imperial
Government to the effect that immediate telegraphic orders would be
sent putting an end to the vexatious interference on the part of the
local authorities in the vilayets of Trebizond and Angora, it has
come to the knowledge of this legation that the said authorities are
still continuing their interference. I therefore find myself obliged
to protest against this action of the said provincial authorities,
and leave the responsibility of the consequences, if any, on the
Imperial Ottoman Government.
I take, etc.,
[Inclosure 4.]
The Minister for Foreign
Affairs to Minister Leishman.
Sublime Porte,
Ministry for Foreign
Affairs,
January 1,
1905.
note verbale.
The ministry for foreign affairs has had the honor of receiving the
note verbale which the United States legation was good enough to
address it September 27 ultimo, No. 456, concerning the colportage
of religious books.
In answer the imperial ministry hastens to inform the United States
legation that according to the advices given by the imperial
authorities the colporteurs concerned do not limit themselves to the
sale pure and simple of religious books, but that they indulge in
religious propaganda of a most pronounced nature under the pretext
of explaining the utility of and method of using of the said
books.
Now, it is not necessary to recall that in principle all propaganda
is formally forbidden in the Empire, with all that pertains to it,
and that the trade (métier) of colporteurs falling under the
application of the police regulations, the imperial authorities can
not deny themselves a surveillance as necessary as important in
regard to colportage in view of the general tranquillity of the
country they traverse.
The best thing under these circumstances is to permit in future the
sale of the books in question only in depots and shops at fixed
places, and such has been the decision recently taken by the
Imperial Government, which the imperial ministry has the honor to
bring to the attention of the United States legation for the
information of those interested in the subject in question.
[Inclosure 5.]
Chargé Jay to
Consul Sullivan.
American Legation,
Constantinople, January 6, 1905.
Sir: I have to acknowledge the receipt of
your dispatch No. 15, of December 26, 1904. I have also to confirm
my telegram of yesterday’s date, reading as follows:
“American Consul, Trebizond. The sale of Bibles can not be
prohibited. Demand formally and officially immediate unconditional
surrender of seized Bibles which are American property.”
The general question of Bible colportage in now being fought out with
the Turkish Government, this legation and the British embassy having
refused to accept the prohibition of Bible colportage in street and
country pending the receipt of instructions from home.
[Page 905]
Nevertheless, the seizure of Bibles belonging to the American Bible
Society, thereby constituting them American property, can not be
tolerated. The grand vizier yesterday telegraphed in my presence to
the governor-general of Trebizond instructing him to release the
said books.
While I can not accede to the Bible Society’s representatives’
request, pending the receipt of instructions from the Department of
State, that you be instructed to fully protect these colporteurs of
Ottoman nationality in the pursuance of their work against the
direct orders of the Turkish authorities, yet you may use your good
offices with the vali, requesting him to allow colportage at least
in the streets of Trebizond pending the settlement at Constantinople
of the general question.
I am, etc.,
