Mr. Thompson to Mr.
Gresham.
Legation of
the United States,
Constantinople, March 16, 1893.
(Received March 30.)
No. 53.]
Sir: I have the honor to inclose for your
consideration the inclosed “Note Verbale” received by this legation from the
Sublime Porte and the reply thereto.
From all information the legation has from Marsovan it is of the opinion that
there is but one question to be considered and that is the burning of the
school building belonging to the Anatolian College on the night of the 3d of
February. All the claims that are presented by the authorities of the
Ottoman Government at Marsovan as to the hostile attitude of the teachers of
the college, the printing of the hostile placards which were posted over
Asia Minor on the nights of January 4 and 5 last, by the teachers in the
college, and the storing of arms and ammunitions therein, as well as the
present complaint of the hostile attitude of the authorities at the college
as well as the acts complained of, are made for the purpose of diverting
attention from the real grievance complained of, i. e., the burning of the
school building. I have instructed Consul Jewett who is now at Marsovan, to
investigate the matter and report to me here daily as to the condition of
affairs at that place. I inclose you a copy of the telegram sent by me to
Consul Jewett which was agreed on between his excellency the minister for
foreign affairs and myself.
I hope my action in this matter may meet your approval. I await further
instructions.
I have, etc,
[Page 619]
[Inclosure 1 in No. 53.]
Sublime Porte to
Mr. Thompson.
Sublime
Porte, March 14,
1893.
note verbale.
It turns out from a report of the Governor-General of the Vilayet of
Sivas, that the dragoman of the U. S. vice-consulate went and questioned
the Kaimakam of Marsovan on the causes of the reinforcement requested by
the local authorities, adding in a threatening way that on his side the
vice-consul had also addressed himself in the proper quarter, in order
to obtain an armed assistance. On the other side, two pupils of the
Protestant college having forcibly taken away a lamb from the hands of a
Mussulman boy, the Cavas of the vice-consulate, armed with a Martini
Henry rifle, and about sixty pupils with revolvers in their hands, have
attacked two Mussulmans who went to take it back, and they dragged all
three to the school, where they shut them in and beat them to the
applause of all the students, who indulged on that occasion in the most
indecorous demonstrations.
The commander of the gendarmery and the public prosecutor of the court of
appeals declare that seven or eight individuals have from the window of
the chancery of the vice consulate aimed Martini Henry rifles at the
aforesaid Mussulmans, who were released only upon the solicitations of
the parents of the boy.
Such incidents need no comment, and the minister of foreign affairs is
satisfied that it suffices to bring them to the kind notice of the
United States legation for it to take toward the culprits the proper
measures and the requisite steps to prevent the recurrence of so
reprehensible acts.
[Inclosure 2 in No. 53.]
Mr. Thompson to the
Sublime Porte.
Legation of the United States,
Constantinople, March 15,
1893.
note verbale.
The legation of the United States has received the Note Verbale dated
March 14, 1893, No. 415½, that the imperial ministry of foreign affairs
did it the honor to address to it relating to transactions at
Marsovan.
This legation, while taking notice of the statement furnished by the
Sublime Porte, has furnished a copy of the same to the Government of the
United States and awaits its instructions. In the meantime Consul
Jewett, now at Marsovan, is fully instructed to make an investigation
into the charges that arms are stored in the college building, and is
directed to report daily by telegraph.
This legation hopes to receive a report from him within a day or two by
telegraph, and avails of the opportunity to make known to the imperial
ministry that there is no vice-consul of the United States at
Marsovan.
[Inclosure 3 in No. 53.]
Mr. Thompson to Mr.
Jewett.
[Telegram.]
Legation of the United States,
Constantinople, March 13,
1893.
You will, with the public prosecutor and such other persons as he may
select (excluding Hosref Pasha and the police force), not exceeding five
or six men, make a search of the college buildings for evidence of the
printing in the college of the placards posted on January 5, also
whether arms and ammunitions are stored in the college buildings.
You are to examine into the causes which led to the destruction of the
building by
[Page 620]
fire; to have the
right to examine and cross-examine witnesses as you wish to establish
the truth as to the burning of the building and who the guilty parties
are who caused its destruction. In case any of the teachers of the
college give testimony you must be present. You will report your
proceedings daily to this legation.
