Mr. Terrell to Mr.
Olney.
Legation of the United States,
Constantinople, August 13, 1895.
(Received Aug. 29.)
No. 592.]
Sir: I have the honor to inclose a copy of
Consul Gibson’s No. 79, of August 6, to Consul-General Short, and of my
response thereto, which relate to the alleged outrage at the domicile of
Rev. Mr. Christie, near Tarsus.
The statement made by Consul Gibson, that the men were tried, convicted,
and punished for possessing a copy of The Revolt of Islam, by Shelley,
and a hymn book containing the hymn “Onward Christian soldiers,” is not
surprising. There has been much of that sort of censorship here,
resulting from the ignorance of officials.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure 1 in No.
592.]
Mr. Gibson to Mr.
Short.
United States Consulate,
Beirut, Syria, August 6, 1895.
No. 79.]
Sir: I have now to bring to your attention
a matter which I hope will engage the earnest and prompt action of
our honorable legation, and I beg that you will refer this complaint
to his excellency.
I was informed by letter last week from Dr. Thomas D. Christie, an
American citizen and president of St. Paul’s Institute in Tarsus,
that his assistant teacher, Minassian, who was imprisoned for
several months in the spring and released at the time of the arrival
of our American war ships, has again been arrested and sentenced to
imprisonment for a year. His offense, or the only charge preferred
against him, is his having in his possession a copy of Shelley’s
Poems, one of which is entitled “The revolt of Islam.” The teachers
father was also imprisoned a year for the ostensible reason that a
song book was found in his [Page 1274] house whose objectionable feature was the hymn “Onward, Christian
soldiers!” I wrote to the vali of Adana, explaining the case, the
entire absence of intention on the teacher’s part to offend, etc.,
hoping that he would do as his predecessor and liberate the teacher,
whose absence greatly crippled the American school, I did this
unofficially and in a friendly way, recognizing the right of Turkish
officials to deal with Turkish subjects. But now the case has been
severely aggravated by an unexplainable invasion and violation of
American domicile, and I appeal for the promptest and best efforts
of yourself and his excellency Minister Terrell for the protection
of American citizens and the punishment of Turkish citizens who have
made a grave assault and actually threatened the life of a man who
has always before lived in peace among this people and who is an
honorable example for all his fellow-citizens at home and abroad. I
need not further allude to the position or prominence of Rev. Dr.
Christie, but I beg to remind you that he not only was a soldier
under the late lamented Secretary of State, but enjoyed the personal
friendship of our late and honored chief.
Late last night I received a telegram from Dr. Christie, and I
immediately forwarded the following to you:
Christie’s house, Tarsus, attacked 4th instant by natives;
his students and servants severely beaten; his life
threatened. Please secure protection and prosecution.
The assault occurred either at Tarsus or at Dr. Christie’s summer
house in Namron, a village near by, where I think he has moved his
college for the present on account of the cholera epidemic in
Tarsus. I find also that the date of the attack may be confused or
misstated on account of the delay in transmission from Tarsus and
Mersine. The incident occurred either on the 1st or 4th instant.
I am, etc.,
Thomas R. Gibson,
United States Consul.
[Inclosure 2 in No.
592.]
Mr. Terrell to
Mr. Short.
Legation of the United States,
Constantinople, August 13, 1895.
No. 114.]
Sir: I have to acknowledge the receipt of
your 147, of the 12th instant, inclosing an extract from Consul
Gibson’s 79, of the 6th, which relates to the reported attack on Mr.
Christie’s premises.
The punishment of the Turkish subject, Minassian, for the alleged
offense of possessing a copy of Shelley’s poem, “The revolt of
Islam,” will be brought to the attention of the foreign minister
here, and if that be the only cause for punishment his release may
be expected.
The more serious complaints of outrages in the violation of the
domicile of the Rev. Mr. Christie, which I find contained in the
same dispatch, has already received attention, and the promise has
been made at the Porte for an immediate inquiry and for the
punishment of the guilty.
The appeal for the prompt and best efforts of this legation contained
in Consul Gibson’s dispatch was not needed. A statement of the facts
showing need for the protection of American interests is alone
needed to secure immediate action by me and such relief as I can
afford.
I have, etc.,
