I presented the matter on yesterday to his highness the Grand Vizier, and he
promptly telegraphed to the vali, or governor-general of Van, to permit the
re-opening of said schools, if they have complied with the provision of the
school laws above referred to. There may be some delay in having these
orders promptly complied with. I am of opinion that I shall succeed in
having them re-opened without unreasonable postponement.
I learn that the original cause for closing these schools was because of
their managers neglecting or refusing to submit to the regulations above
referred to. I surmise that even now there continues in that respect some
evasion. We have long since admitted the propriety and justice of these
requirements, yet there is a tendency on the part of certain managers in
distant provinces to evade the law.
[Inclosure in No. 178.]
Memorandum drawn up by Rev H. O. Dwight.
(1) About ten years ago (1878) the American missionaries residing at Van
established a common school in the village of Agautz in the Sanjak of
Arjish (vilayet of Van). The school has been carried on without
objection from the local authorities, and in 1886, on receipt of the
instructions contained in the letter of Mr. Pendleton King, dated
December 13, 1886, it complied with the regulations there set forth, and
has done nothing contrary to these regulations.
In the summer of 1887 the governor-general of the province, Halil Pasha,
ordered the school to be closed. Dr. G. C. Raynolds, the American
missionary responsible for the school, applied to the director of the
instruction in the province tor a removal of the instructions laid on
this school, pointing out that it had existed for a number of years and
had conformed to the law in all respects.
After long delays Dr. Raynolds received, on the 7th of February, 1889, a
verbal communication from the director of instruction (Mearif Mudiri) of
the province to the effect that the school could not be re-opened, since
certain Armenians in the village objected to the existence of a
Protestant school at Agautz.
Dr. Raynolds then pointed out that the school was opened at the request
of the Protestant families residing in the village, and had violated
none of the school regulations.
The director of instruction then remarked that the continuance of the
school was in violation of a new school law. He, however, refused to
furnish Dr. Raynolds with a copy of the law, or to give his refusal to
authorize the re-opening of the school in writing.
Since it is evident that there is no law of the Empire making the
continuance of the schools of Americans dependent upon the consent of
the population no one being forced to attend such schools, it is hoped
that the governor-general of Van may be instructed to cease interposing
his prohibition against the continuance of this school.
(2) The American missionaries residing at Urmiah, in Persia, have for
many years conducted schools in several villages in the plain of Gawar,
district of Hakkiari, province of Van, near the Persian frontier.
These schools were summarily closed in the early part of 1888, and on the
recommendation of the United States legation care was taken to conform
to section 129 of the school law. In October of 1888 the schools were
re-opened without objection from the local authorities. Subsequently,
however, the governor-general of Van ordered the schools to be closed,
and required a fresh presentation of books and course of study to his
office.
[Page 715]
The books were presented as required, and the governor-general gave
decision against the re-opening of the schools on the ground that he
could not allow American citizens to open schools in this district.
Since these schools have been carried on by Americans for many years
without complaint against them it is hoped that their continuance may be
permitted by the Imperial Government.
