Mr. Hale to Mr.
Seward
Agency and Consulate General U. S.
of America, Alexandria,
Egypt,
November 25, 1867.
Sir : In my despatch No. 95, under date of 27th
June last, brief allusion was made to the reported ill treatment of some
of the native Coptic converts of the American missionaries in Egypt, a
matter which has engaged my serious attention during nearly the whole of
the time left at my disposal during the last summer.
There have been two principal cases of complaint on this score. The
former was that of a Coptic teacher named Besh-et-ly, who, it was
alleged, had been forcibly expelled from the village of Ekmim, in the
month of May last, at the instance of the Coptic Patriarch, supported,
as was alleged, by the Egyptian government.
Ragheb Pacha, at that time minister of foreign affairs, however, in
several interviews, and finally in the written note under date of 5th
June, of which a translation is hereto annexed, marked B, disavowed most
emphatically the complicity of the government in these proceedings.
Besh-et-ly returned soon afterwards to the village of Ekmim, and has
remained there pursuing his teaching of Protestant Christianity without
molestation or hindrance on the part of any persons whatever.
Apprehensions, however, were entertained on the part of the missionaries
of a repetition of annoyance to their converts among the native Coptic
population of Egypt, and I accordingly continued to press the subject
upon the attention of the government, in the hope of obtaining some
result which should wholly remove all ground for such apprehension.
Ragheb Pacha, having accompanied the viceroy in his excursion to Europe,
was succeeded in the foreign office by Cherif Pacha, from whom I
received on this subject, under date of the 17th of July, the note of
which a translation is hereto annexed, marked C.
On the return of the viceroy to Egypt, Zoulfikar Pacha was named minister
of foreign affairs; and shortly afterwards the second principal case of
complaint arose, in the summary deportation, on or about 29th September,
of an old man named Earn Stefanos, an early convert of the American
missionaries, together with two of his relations, from their home near
Ghous, in order to carry them, as it was believed, to the White Nile,
where they would soon die. This was certainly done by officials of the
Egyptian government, and, as was believed, at the instigation of the
Coptic Patriarch.
Under the circumstances I felt myself justified, on the formal request of
the American missionaries, in expressing myself in strong terms to
Zoulfikar Pacha on this subject, first by telegram and afterwards in two
notes, of which the
[Page 98]
latter was
despatched from Alexandria on the 10th October. No direct answer was
returned to either of these communications; but on proceeding to Cairo
for the purpose of asking explanations, I was gratified to receive,
immediately on my arrival, 12th instant, from Mustafa Aga, United States
consular agent at Luxor, a report of which a translation is hereto
annexed, marked D, announcing the return of Fam Stefanos and his
companions to their homes; this release from confinement having occurred
about the 26th October.
In an interview with Zoulfikar Pacha, I found that minister not disposed
to talk much of this particular case, with the circumstances of which he
said Ragheb Pacha was more familiar, but he renewed with emphasis the
expression of the wish of his government to adhere to its avowed policy
of religious toleration, and to make good its welcome to the American
missionaries; and he said he would take the orders of his Highness with
regard to any proposition that might be made for the purpose of removing
difficulties or complaints in the matter.
Before taking further steps, however, I have deemed it proper to make the
present report. In the former case of Besh-et-ly, the missionaries, by
their written note to me, of which a copy is annexed, marked A, proposed
that five demands should be made to the Egyptian government. Referring
to their letter itself for the exact detail, these five demands are here
briefly recapitulated as follows: (1.) The return of Besh-et-ly to
Ekmim. (2.) The punishment of 89 persons, being nearly the whole
population of that village. (3.) The appointment of a joint commission
to be composed of an equal number of members appointed by the Egyptian
government and by the American consulate general, “with full authority
to examine witnesses wherever found and issue judgment according to the
merits of the case ;” that is to say, a tribunal partly composed of a
representative or representatives of the American government, to try
native subjects of the Egyptian government for alleged offences against
the principles of religious toleration proclaimed by the Egyptian
government. (4.) A money indemnity to be paid by the Egyptian government
equal to the expense of maintaining the American mission in Upper Egypt,
300 pounds sterling per month. (5.) The appointment, under certain
circumstances, of an American consular agent “in every town in Egypt
likely to be visited by American citizens, (that is, by the missionaries
or any of them,) or in which there are American interests to be looked
after ;” that is, where there may reside one or more native converts of
the American missionaries.
These proposals were regarded as unnecessarily severe in the case of
Besh-et-ly, and, as has already been stated, that particular case was
regarded as substantially finished when, the Egyptian government having
disavowed all part in his expulsion from the village of Ekmim, he did,
in point of fact, return to that village and resume his residence and
teachings, without molestation. The same proposals, mutatis mutandis, are nevertheless now suggested by the
missionaries as proper to be urged on the Egyptian government as a
sequel to the case of Fam Stefanos, notwithstanding he has been returned
to his home inconsequence, as there is every reason to believe, of the
representations made to the Egyptian government at the instance of the
American missionaries.
The matter is respectfully submitted without further remark.
I have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully, your obedient
servant,
Hon. William H. Seward
Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.
[Page 99]
A.
The American missionaries to
Mr. Hale
Alexandria,
June 4, 1867.
Hon. Charles Hale,
United States Consul General for Egypt :
We send you the enclosed documents in duplicate English and Arabic,
according to your request, for your convenience in referring it to
the Foreign Office.
As we hear the Viceroy is to leave the country in a few days, and it
is very desirable that his decision should be obtained in this case,
and as the documents upon which the case are built are so voluminous
that you will hardly have time fully to digest them before the
Viceroy leaves, permit us respectfully to suggest that the following
are what we think the facts of the case demand :
1st That the government here immediately send to the Mudir of Ekmim
an order permitting Besh-et-ly to return to his place of residence
until such time as he shall be convicted of crimes justifying his
banishment therefrom.
2d. That the 89 persons who signed the enclosed petition, and the two
Sheikhs of Ekmim, who are guilty, on their own showing, of
disorderly and seditious proceedings, be immediately sentenced to
punishments suitable to their crimes.
3d. That a joint commission be appointed, consisting of an equal
number of members appointed by the government and the consulate,
with full authority to examine witnesses wherever found, and issue
judgment according to the merits of the case, and that this
commission have the use of a government steamer in order to visit
Upper Egypt for this purpose.
4th. That as oar schools in Upper Egypt have been stopped, and our
work generally interfered with, the expenses of the Upper Egypt
mission, amounting to £300 sterling per month, be paid us, this
payment to begin with the date of our last communication, May 4,
when the government by a telegram might at once have put a stop to
the wrongs complained of, and to continue until such time as these
interferences shall be removed—these damages to be collected from
those parties who shall be found guilty by the commission of the
interference complained of.
5th. That if it be the law of the land that an American citizen
appearing before a native court with a complaint, and only asking
that his case be judged according to the laws of the land, cannot be
heard, the consulate receive authority to appoint consular agents in
every town in Egypt likely to be visited by American citizens, or in
which there are American interests to be looked after.
Hoping that these suggestions may meet with your approval, as they
are founded upon right, we have the honor to remain, yours, &c.,
In the name of the Egyptian mission :
G. LANSING.
B. F. PINKERTON.
Note.—It will be understood that this
communication from the missionaries was carefully considered, but it
was not deemed advisable at the time to make of the Egyptian
government the five demands therein proposed, although the subject
was pressed on the government as one requiring attention.
The papers covered by the communication, being voluminous, are not
forwarded with this copy.
B.
[Translation. —The original is in
Arabic]
Ragheh Pacha to Mr. Hale
Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
Alexandria.
June 5, 1867.
I have taken into consideration your note of the month of May ultimo,
concerning the complaint brought by certain persons against the
Coptic Patriarch. In that note you say that the government of the
Viceroy has generally shown by its acts that it allows religious
toleration, and you think therefore that it cannot approve of the
proceedings of the Coptic, Patriarch.
It is true that the Egyptian government has allowed the toleration of
all religions, like other civilized governments, and has given full
and complete assistance to all religions in supplying their
needs.
In view of the toleration which it thus accords, the government
thinks it its duty not to
[Page 100]
take any official part in the decision of religious questions; for
it fears, in view of the great number of different religions in
Egypt, to give rise to anarchy by its official interference.
Accordingly, I have the honor to reply to you unofficially, (or, in a
friendly manner,) that I experience much regret in observing that
these complaints address themselves to you, Mr. Consul General, in
this matter, since they ought, by their very position in relation to
the government, to address themselves always to the local
authorities.
Nevertheless, out of respect for your person, I have written at once
to the inspector general of provinces, to obtain all the information
necessary regarding the circumstances which have been pointed out,
and to prevent, on the part of those whose duty it is, anything that
may stand in the way of the toleration already mentioned.
C.
[Translation. —The original in
French.]
Cherif Pacha to Mr. Hale
Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
Alexandria,
July 17, 1867.
Sir : You have lately expressed a desire to
know what is the feeling of the government of his Highness the
Viceroy with regard to the nature of the recent occurrences in which
a Copt, converted to Protestanism by the American missionaries, was
the principal actor, and which aroused the attention of the local
authorities.
On this subject you are yourself aware that the government of his
Highness practices religious tolerance to the fullest extent, and
that in no other country freedom of worship is more respected than
in Egpyt.
Devoted to the ideas of civilization and of progress, his Highness
the Viceroy, my august master, sanctions every day this principle of
tolerance, and, placed under the safeguard of his generous
inspirations, all creeds find the most easy access to the hospitable
soil of Egypt, as well as the most constant support there.
And this support is not merely moral, for, you are also aware, the
greater part of the religious communities established in the
country, including the American missionaries, have received marks of
the good-will of his Highness, whose liberal hand has often aided
and contributed to their establishment and to their material
well-being.
Accordingly nobody can doubt that the Egyptian government is as
favorable as possible to the enjoyment of religious liberty, and I
believe that, in the face of the facts which take place every day,
no voice is raised to contest this truth. But side by side with the
enjoyment there is the abuse; and to tolerate the abuse would be
precisely to fail in the object which the government has always
proposed—that of assuring the exercise of liberty within the largest
limits, at the same time, of course, excluding license, which is
always dangerous. The government is willing to respect the religious
convictions of all who inhabit its territory; it is willing that
everybody should obey without restraint the inspirations of his
conscience; but it thinks proper at the same time to look for the
same respect for the convictions and the consciences of its own
subjects.
To proceed in the way of an active and incessant propagandism, as the
Copt you have mentioned to me, is evidently to fall into the abuse
and stray from the limits which befit the enjoyment of a wise
liberty; for this is to exercise upon the conscience of another a
pressure which injures liberty and tends constantly to change
it.
Thus the government raises itself with energy against such
proceedings, and has quite decided to take all proper measures to
repress propagandism, whether secret or public, whoever may be
engaged in it, because it considers this entirely opposed to the
liberty of conscience; that is, to the exercise of an inviolable
right, to the perfect preservation of which an enlightened
government owes all its solicitude and all its vigilance.
Such is moreover the sovereign influence of this right, such is the
sentiment it inspires in all, without distinction, that in this
particular case the Coptic population aroused itself in a body
against these attempts at propagandism; and it required to calm this
excitement the intervention, wholly conciliatory, wholly pacific, of
the patriarch, who, by a happy chance, was making his periodical
round of visits at the time, but to whom, nevertheless, the local
authority, if it had been warned in due time, would not have allowed
the initiative, in virtue precisely of this principle of religious
liberty which it is bound to insist upon in all circumstances.
Behold the truth.
These explanations will suffice, without doubt, to give you a clear
understanding of the facts which have happened, as well as of the
manner in which the government regards them, which you wished to
know.
Accept, &c.,
Hon. Charles Hale,
Consul General of United States in
Egypt.
[Page 101]
D.
[Translation.—The original in
Arabic.]
Mustafa Aga, United States consular agent at
Lugsor, to Mr.
Hale
Lugsor,
October 29, 1867.
I have the honor to inform you that this day, Tuesday, 1st day of the
month of Ragheb, year of the hegira 1284, (29th October, 1867,)
there have been returned to Lugsor Stefanos, Abdul Melek, and
Bifsadah, who had been sent as far as Esneh. In consequence of an
order addressed by the inspector general of provinces to the local
authorities of Esneh they were there set at liberty, and on their
arrival here I received them, in company with the American
missionary whose home is at Ghous, who had come up to meet them.
I found them cheerful and happy, very grateful for your kindness and
good faith. Indeed, I myself am very happy, because great honor
comes even to me in this matter, and great praise to our government,
the subjects of whose care enjoy great honor and great reputation
throughout the whole world, after what you have done in this affair;
and we pray God to give you a long life of happy days.
MUSTAFA AGA, American Consular Agent,
Lugsor.
