Mr. Terrell to Mr. Olney.
Constantinople, January 20, 1896. (Received Feb. 3.)
Sir: I have the honor to call your attention to the inclosed clipping from the New York Daily Tribune of the 2d instant, in which it is stated that “the apathy of the Washington Government in not filling the Erzeroum and Harpoot consulates is the subject of harsh criticism in diplomatic circles here.” This was a telegram from this city.
The falsehood of this charge is apparent, so far as concerns the Government, from an inspection of the instructions to me of your Department under which it was expected that every effort would be used to secure the recognition of Vice-Consuls Chilton and Hunter. Efforts to secure exequaturs for these gentlemen by me were persistent from the time of their arrival. When they arrived here the Turkish Government was being pressed by the great Powers of Europe for reforms, and manifested from the first a disposition to postpone the issuance of exequaturs. An application to the minister for foreign affairs under various excuses remained unanswered. It was referred to the grand vizier, then to the council of ministers, then to the palace. The Sultan requested delay for a time. Pressure was renewed. Then the excuse was made that we had no commerce at either Erzeroum or Harpoot. Then the position was assumed that under our treaty no consuls could be appointed as matter of right unless the Turkish Government consented, [Page 1466] etc. Your Department knows the endless delays and obstacles that always retard the transaction of business here.
The first massacre occurred in this city September 30. The day before that an application for a traveling teskéré for the vice-consuls was declined. Then on October 2, two days after the massacre, while terrorism existed in Stamboul, after going to the Armenian quarters to visit terror-stricken American ladies there, I drove to the quay and in person placed the vice-consuls on a Russian ship, without even traveling teskérés, and started them for Trebizond.
Two days, I think, after their arrival in that city these vice-consuls saw a terrible massacre of Armenians and narrowly escaped with their lives. Here the pressure for the reforms which were soon announced became more determined. I saw, with a vision which proved to be prophetic, that a general massacre would follow, and declined to order the vice-consuls to continue their journey to Erzeroum and Harpoot without even the protection of a traveling permit, which the Turkish Government declined to give on account of the condition of the country.
I would so act again. If there is any fault, it is mine. The missionaries’ desire that they should continue to their posts without protection I disregarded. I would do so again, and the vice-consuls should have disregarded my instructions to go forward without protection if I had given them. The unsettled condition of popular feeling was given as the excuse for declining to give permits. The charge that “harsh criticism” was indulged in in diplomatic circles here is utterly false. One of the great European Powers was watching my efforts with interest, for her ambassador desired to establish a consul at Harpoot if I could succeed; but when he was unwilling to make the effort for his own Government, it is not perceived why my failure should have justified harsh criticism.
I have been verbally informed at the Porte that our consul to Erzeroum, when sent here, would receive his exequatur now. Before starting another please wire me, that I may be certain of it.
I, and not missionaries, must be responsible for my action here in matters which rest in discretion, and I must follow my own convictions.
I have, etc.,