Mr. Terrell to Mr.
Olney.
Legation of the United States,
Constantinople, January 4, 1896.
(Received Jan. 20.)
No. 756.]
Sir: I have the honor to inclose for your
information a letter from Admiral Selfridge, dated Smyrna, 25th ultimo,
which incloses the copy of a letter from the vali of Aleppo without
date, in which the latter denies that the soldiers were responsible for
the burning and pillage at Marash.
I also inclose a copy of my response to the letter of Admiral
Selfridge.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure 1 in No.
756.]
Admiral Selfridge
to Mr. Terrell.
U.
S. S. San Francisco,
Smyrna,
Asia Minor, December 25,
1895.
Sir: I have the honor to inclose you a
letter from Moustapha Zehni Pasha, the vali of Aleppo.
You will see that not only he denies that the mission buildings at
Marash were set on fire by Turkish soldiers, as intimated by Mr. Lee
in his narrative of the events that took place at Marash, but the
vali adds that a testimonial of satisfaction was given to the
Turkish commander by the American missionaries.
Very respectfully,
Thos. O. Selfridge,
Rear-Admiral, U. S. N.
[Page 1445]
[Inclosure 2 in No.
756.]
Vali of Aleppo to
Consul at Aleppo.
No. 319.]
I have noted the letter of Admiral Selfridge, commander of the
American fleet, which was sent to me from Alexandretta through
you.
In this letter the admiral brings to my knowledge that the
establishments of the American missionaries were pillaged by Ottoman
soldiers and a portion of them burned, and states that he holds the
authors of these damages responsible, and requests the protection of
the lives and property of the Americans residing in this city.
In reply to the admiral’s letter, I bring to your knowledge that the
houses and schools of the missionaries, surrounded by walls, were
protected by soldiers and gendarmes, so that no one could enter them
from outside. It is unknown since then how it was that a fire broke
out in one of the establishments. The fact is that as soon as the
fire broke out the troops, led by officers, entered to localize and
put out the fire. As to the sacking of the establishments, it has
been reported to me that it was an unfounded and false
invention.
I also have to inform you that I have been notified that the
commandant of Marash, Ferik Pacha, has received from the American
missionaries a testimonial of satisfaction for the good services
rendered by the soldiers.
I also have to tell you that during the preceding troubles the
foreigners have suffered nothing, and that at present all foreigners
and natives are very particularly placed under Government
protection.
I take, etc.,
Moustafa Zehni,
The Vali of Aleppo.
[Inclosure 3 in No.
756.]
United States Legation,
Constantinople, January 4, 1896.
Sir: Your delayed letter of December 25 is
received, which inclosed one from Moustafa Zehni, vali of Aleppo, to
the United States consul, in which the vali denies that the soldiers
pillaged American property at Marash, or were responsible for the
fire there.
The missionaries there say that their property was burned and
pillaged by Moslems. A commission to ascertain the facts may become
a necessity. Those who commit arson are quite as likely to lie about
it as those who suffer from it The telegraphic news from the
interior is still terrible. Until conditions improve I regard the
presence of your boats in the eastern Mediterranean as of the utmost
importance.
Very truly,
