Legation of the United States,
Constantinople, October 27,
1895.
No. 653.]
Mr. Dwight has a national reputation among our Christian people.
[Inclosure in No. 653.]
Circular.
Constantinople, October 26, 1895.
It is said that some of the mission stations have expressed
dissatisfaction with the administration of Mr. Terrell, minister of
the United States, declaring that he is neglectful of the protection
of American citizens, and in particular that he has advised the
abandonment of the principle of inviolability of domicile, which is
our safeguard against the summary search of our houses by
irresponsible and incompetent officials.
As all are aware, Mr. Peet and I have been charged, during several
years, with the duty of communicating with the United States
legation in cases where the interests of the missions have seemed to
require intervention. By this means we have had intimate knowledge
of all Mr. Terrell’s actions in behalf of missionaries, and of his
sentiments and desires respecting the protection of the persons and
the rights of American citizens in Turkey. I can say that the
general allegation of carelessness in the matter of protection rests
on no foundation whatever; that Mr. Terrell consults us freely in
every important crisis, and that he has shown great willingness to
give weight to our opinions. I now first hear of the specific
allegation of a decision or an intention to surrender the principle
of the inviolability of domicile. I have no hesitation in saying
from personal knowledge that Mr. Terrell has carried on his heart,
as a burden that permits no escape and allows no rest, anxiety for
the safety of American citizens in Turkey during all the dangerous
vicissitudes of the present year. He has used for this end all the
means which have suggested themselves to his mind, and has labored
early and late to make effective the measures which he has adopted.
In my own mind there is not the shadow of a doubt, for instance,
that the maintenance of the Bitlis station during the fiery trials
of the past year, the exemption of some of its members personally
from molestation, and perhaps the preservation of their lives, has
been due, under the providence of God, to the repeated, sustained,
and vigorous action of Mr. Terrell at the Sublime Porte.
It is known to all that the United States Government strenuously
forbids its representatives from interfering in any way in behalf of
Ottoman subjects, no matter how strongly humanitarian considerations
might seem to require such interference; but in every case where an
Armenian naturalized citizen has been molested Mr. Terrell has
interfered sharply and effectively to prevent punishment on
suspicion of connection with revolutionary schemes of men who can
not be proved to have violated any law. These considerations seem to
require me to say that the opinions which they traverse would
probably be modified on examination of the facts, necessarily
unknown to those who have advanced such opinions. We may frankly
differ from Mr. Terrell to his face as to point of view and methods
of action in specific cases, but it is neither fair nor right to
make to others, concerning an official who with honest purpose is
devoting his whole time and strength and ability to the defense of
American interests, the sweeping assertion that he is neglectful of
this duty.
