Office of the Historian

Mr. Terrell to Mr. Olney.

Legation of the United States,
Constantinople, December 3, 1895. (Received Dec. 23.)
No. 700.]

Sir: I have the honor to inclose the copy of a memorandum furnished at the office of the Turkish minister of foreign affairs to Mr. Garguilo, my dragoman, on the 30th ultimo, containing incredible charges against our American missionaries at Bitlis.

Notwithstanding the irregular way in which the matter reached me, it seems necessary to notice it. I visited the foreign office yesterday and in plain language denounced the charges made as unmitigated lies, invented by prejudiced officials and forwarded here to excuse some meditated mischief. The British ambassador, under whose direction Reynolds and Cole have been distributing charity, assured me that he would join in like denunciation. “George,” to whom reference is made, is believed to be Bev. George Knapp.

When speaking of the matter I was informed at the Porte that Armenian revolutionists were sometimes found disguised with white turbans and robes as ulemas or Mohammedan priests, and it was suggested that they might in such disguise do harm to missionaries if they had willfully lied on them. Such a danger I have feared for our people in the provinces of Adana and Aleppo, but at Bitlis the chief fear is for the conduct of the Turks. The danger of missionaries at Bitlis is extreme, and I am firmly convinced that they will be sacrificed unless they quit that mission. Safe conduct has been promised if they desire to leave, but they remain and telegraph me for a consul, which, of course, I have no power to furnish. My means of protection are exhausted.

I have, etc.,

A. W. Terrell.
[Page 1361]
[Inclosure in No. 700.]

Memorandum furnished to Mr. Gargiulo by the foreign office.

In his report to the Sublime Porte the vali of Bitlis complains of a missionary George, and says that he is inciting the Armenians to rise up; that he furnished some of them with revolvers, and that the signal to attack the Mussulmans while at prayer in the mosques was given by missionary George by ringing the bell of the school three times; that Messrs. Cole and Reynolds, who are in the mountains, are acting contrary to good sense, and that their conduct, it is believed, is disapproved by the English Government; that it would not do to permit these men to remain any longer at Bitlis and that they should be sent away.