Mr. Uhl to Mr.
Terrell.
Department of State,
Washington
,
May 10,
1895
.
No. 461.]
Sir: I inclose herewith, for your information,
copy of a letter of the 7th instant from the foreign secretary of the
American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, expressing the
gratification of the Board at the favorable outcome of your efforts in
behalf of Marsovan College.
[Page 1237]
Mr. Smith, expresses the hope that the Sultan will go further and extend
the same protection to the Protestant church in Stamboul, which has long
awaited such action on his part.
I am, etc.,
[Inclosure in No. 461.]
Rev. Judson Smith
to Mr. Gresham.
Sir: The good tidings sent in your favor of
May 4, to the effect that you have a cablegram of the 2d instant
from the United States minister at Constantinople conveying the
gratifying intelligence that he has been assured by the Sublime
Porte that the Sultan has issued an irade for Marsovan College, is
at hand, and its tidings received with the greatest satisfaction. A
letter from Constantinople received a few days ago had informed me
that Judge Terrell, under instructions from Washington, had made a
demand upon the Sultan for the immediate fulfillment of his pledge
to this effect, it is very gratifying to know that through the
steadfast purpose of our Government and the address of Judge
Terrell, this long-delayed promise has at length been fulfilled, and
I beg to convey to you hearty thanks both from myself personally and
from all my associates in the Board. We are sure that great benefits
to our missionary work will result from the increased security thus
enjoyed by our higher institutions of learning in the Turkish
Empire, and we indulge the hope that the Sultan, in his
consideration for American interests, may go further and afford the
same Imperial protection to the Protestant church in Stamboul, which
has long awaited such action on his part.
Rejoicing in this additional token of a better understanding and
purpose on the part of the Turkish Government with reference to our
missionaries and their work in Turkey,
I am, etc.,
Judson Smith,
Foreign Secretary A. B. C. F. M.
