Mr. Tyler to Mr. Sherman.
Teheran, Persia, April 21, 1898.
Sir: I have the honor to transmit for your information some correspondence relating to the imprisonment of the Rev. M. Bagdasarian, a naturalized citizen of the United States, now, as his permanent abode, residing at the village of Kalasar, district of Salmas, in the government of Azerbaijan, as a missionary of an American denomination called the “Disciples of Christ.”
Mehran Bagdasarian was originally a Turkish subject, having been born in Constantinople and lived for many years in Van. He went to the United States, I am informed, about nine years ago, remained the statutory period, took out his papers of naturalization, and, it appears, obtained funds and started out almost immediately as a missionary to the Nestorians and Amenians of Persia.
This is not the first time that Bagdasarian has been in conflict with the Persian authorities, as the inclosed copy of a letter will show. On this occasion I had a personal interview with the foreign minister and induced him to intervene and stop what was apparently an attempted extortion and persecution. Bagdasarian, it appears, at this time employed a refugee as a teacher in his orphanage (an institution supported by funds sent from Germany) who was accused of being a revolutionary, and subsequently arrested and sent to the district prison at Khoi. To employ this man was, no doubt, a mistake, even though, as Bagdasarian states, he was innocent, and it was probably on this ground that a pretext was found for his own apprehension and his being sent to Tabriz. It is, on the other hand, possible, to agree with the acting British consul, that the real object was to extort money, of which Bagdasarian seems to have a considerable supply, and probably makes an indiscreet display of.
Bagdasarian must have known that the Turkish authorities were using every possible means and vigilance to detect and report the existence of even apparent revolutionaries, and their movements on the frontier, and should have kept himself free from persons who were likely to create suspicion and cause trouble and annoyance to the Government.
I venture to remark that when it can be proved, as is the case with some of these men, that their only object in going to the United States and staying just long enough to become entitled to citizenship, without fulfilling any of the duties appertaining thereto, is simply to obtain protection in a foreign state, some different treatment should be extended to them. They never have been and never will be citizens in the true sense of the term. I am afraid, too, that this privilege is [Page 519] sometimes made the excuse and the occasion for acts of very serious indiscretion which native citizens would consider it prudent to abstain from. Perhaps it might be advisable to administer a caution to these people when they come into the country, that protection depends upon good behavior. The Persian Government will not recognize as foreign subjects those who have left the country and remained in some other just sufficent time to allow of their change of nationality.
It will be seen from the last English telegram that Bagdasarian has been delivered up to the acting English consul, so there is no doubt lie will have a fair trial, but any further action which I shall deem it necessary to take will depend upon the issues raised and the decision arrived at by the tribunal. I have not thought it necessary to telegraph for instructions in dealing with this matter, as I have no doubt that it will eventually be amicably and satisfactorily settled.
I may be permitted to explain that in my letter to the foreign minister of the 11th instant, I mention the name of Mirza Hussein Khan. This person was for a short time last year the sarperast, or administrator, for the Christians in Oroomiah, and earned the esteem and respect of all the foreigners residing in those regions. In my interview with his Excellency he promised to have him reappointed and I think he will return to his post, which in the present disturbed state of those parts is one of considerable responsibility. Hussein Khan is a man of some experience, and if he can carry out the policy and plans he has foreshadowed to me he may do much to ameliorate the condition of the people.
I have, etc.,