Though verbally assured by the late grand vizier that telegraphic orders
would be sent to comply with my demands, I am informed by a telegram
from Consular Agent Poche, on the 26th instant, that those repeated
promises have been disregarded and that Guedjian is still confined in
prison at Aleppo, though his passport as an American citizen is in due
form and of recent date.
A similar disregard of treaty rights, accompanied with the same failure
to answer my emphatic demands for relief, was practiced by the Porte in
the case of Krekor Arakelian, who was imprisoned at Marsovan for seven
weeks before his release, and no satisfactory answer has yet been made
to my demands.
The same disregard of my notes has been observed in the case of George
Webber, who, I am convinced, was murdered by harsh impris onment, and
whose passport was in due form.
In this condition of affairs, a proper regard for treaty rights and the
lives of our citizens, induced my note No. 93 of this date to the
minister of foreign affairs, in which my demands were repeated and a
written answer at once demanded.
I trust you will approve my action in stating that unless my demands were
complied with at once, I would ask instructions to demand my
passports.
[Inclosure in No. 654.]
Mr. Terrell to
Saïd Pasha.
Legation of the United States,
Constantinople
,
October 28, 1895.
Sir: A telegram from the consular agent of
the United States at Aleppo, sent yesterday, informs me that the
governor of that province still refuses to permit that officer to
converse with Melcoun Guedjian, whose passport as an American
citizen is in due form, and who has been confined in Aleppo for many
weeks in prison.
In a conversation with His Highness Said Pasha, grand vizier, on
September 19, I called his attention to the case of Guedjian. In my
note, No. 83, of September 21, addressed to the grand vizier, I
protested against the action of the vali in refusing the American
consular agent opportunity to examine into Guedjiaifs right, either
by conversing with him or by examining his papers, and reminded the
grand vizier of the verbal promise he made me on the 19th ultimo,
that he would send telegraphic orders to correct this.
On September 23, by my note, No. 84, addressed to the grand vizier,
his attention was called to the fact that reliable information had
reached me that Guedjian had been sentenced to a long term of
imprisonment by a Turkish tribunal, without the knowledge of the
consular agent, who had again asked in vain to see the prisoner.
I have a copy of the written accusation on which he was tried and of
his examination, and have absolute knowledge that he was not
arrested when in armed resistance to the Government of His Imperial
Majesty.
Against the execution of the sentence I formally protested, and
demanded its suspension until I could investigate the nature of the
crime charged and the facts proved.
In my note, No. 86, of September 28, to His Excellency Turkhan Pasha,
your predecessor, I informed the Porte that the application of the
American consular agent at Aleppo to see Guedjian and examine his
passport had been again refused. In that note I demanded that the
judgment rendered against Guedjian should be annulled, as rendered
without jurisdiction, and I also demanded that he should be brought
to Constantinople, with his passport and other property, and be
delivered [Page 1313] to the
consul-general of the United States, who would examine the
accusation against him.
In my note, No. 91, of October 23, to His Excellency Said Pasha,
minister of foreign affairs, I stated to him the facts that the vali
still refused all access to Guedjian, though telegraphic orders
requiring access to the prisoner had before that date been verbally
promised me by his excellency the present grand vizier. In that note
I demanded the removal from office of the vali of Aleppo, unless the
Ottoman Government was willing to assume responsibility for his
illegal action. This demand was also made by me verbally in
person.
In addition to the notes referred to, oral representations have been
repeatedly made at the Porte on the subject to His Highness Said
Pasha, the late grand vizier, to Turkhan Pasha, the predecessor of
your excellency, and to His Highness Kamil Pasha, the present grand
vizier.
I regret to remind your excellency that I have not yet been favored
with a single line of writing acknowledging or responding to any of
my written notes, although the illegal detention of an American
citizen was the subject, and three of those notes were sent by a
trusted cavass and delivered at the Porte more than a month ago.
The unusual difficulties which have recently embarrassed the
administration of public affairs in the Ottoman Empire appealed to
my forbearance, when assured by the predecessor of your excellency
of kind treatment to Guedjian while in prison. Longer forbearance is
not consistent with the dignity of my Government.
The United States demands the same protection in the Ottoman Empire
for every American citizen bearing its passport, whether native born
or naturalized, that is accorded to any titled prince of any power
in Europe.
The long imprisonment and illegal trial of Guedjian, without written
explanation from the Porte when requested, is unfortunately not the
only case of that character. Krekor Arakelian was confined in prison
at Marsovan on suspicion alone for seven weeks, though he bore an
American passport regular in form.
Your excellency need not be informed that the only solid foundation
for cordial relations between Governments are an observance of
justice, a strict observance of treaty rights, and mutual
forbearance and courtesy between those who represent them.
Treaty rights have been flagrantly violated by the vali at Aleppo,
and my courteous request for a correction of the wrong has met with
no written answer.
I therefore demand an immediate written statement from your
excellency that the insulting conduct of the vali of Aleppo is not
approved, and that he will be at once removed from his office, or
that the Ottoman Government assumes the responsibility for his
conduct.
I also demand a written statement that Guedjian will be brought at
once to this city, that I may examine the nature of his crime, if he
has violated law, and direct his punishment, or permit his
deportation from the country if his presence is not desirable.
If these reasonable demands are not complied with before Tuesday, I
will realize that all my efforts to secure the protection of
American citizens and to preserve cordial relations between our
respective Governments have been in vain, and of which I will inform
my Government and request authority to demand my passport.
Receive, etc.,
