Mr. Francis to Mr. Hay. TROY, N. Y., July 18, 1901. SIR: I have the honor to report the receipt to-day of the following letter from Louis (or Leonidas) Economopoulos, the American subject whose discharge from the Greek army after two years' service was secured June 25, 1901: To His Excellency Hon. CHARLES S. FRANCIS, United States Minister: ATHENS, June 25, 1901. SIR: I beg leave to express my profound gratitude for the efforts and energy displayed by your excellency in obtaining my release from the Greek army, an act which few nations' representatives could accomplish from a country with which there does not exist any naturalization treaty. How can I be otherwise than a faithful citizen of my beloved free and glorious adopted country, and for which in support of its Union and Constitution at any time I shall cheerfully shed my last drop of blood. I pray, honorable sir, convey to our Government my everlasting gratitude. I have, etc., I am, etc., LOUIS ECONOMOPOULOS. CHARLES S. FRANCIS. CONDOLENCES ON ASSASSINATION OF PRESIDENT M'KINLEY. The Minister for Foreign Affairs of Greece to Mr. Hay. [Telegram.] ATHENS, September 15, 1901. The sad news of the death of the President of the United States, victim of an odious crime, has caused the Royal Government profound feeling; and therefore, in its name, I pray you to accept my sentiments of keen sympathy. Greece joins in the profound sorrow which the people of the United States of America suffer on this sad occasion. ROMANOS, Minister for Foreign Affairs. Mr. Hay to the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Greece. [Telegram.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, September 16, 1901. Our people and Government in their hour of grief are deeply touched by the sympathy shown by the Greek Government and nation. JOHN HAY. RIOT AT ATHENS CAUSED BY THE TRANSLATION OF THE BIBLE INTO VULGAR GREEK. No. 39.] Mr. Francis to Mr. Hay. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, Athens, November 22, 1901. SIR: I have the honor to report that during the last few days Athens has been the scene of mob demonstration which yesterday almost assumed the proportions of a revolution. Briefly, the reason for this disturbance was the recent translation and publication in Athens of the Bible in vulgar Greek. Expressions were employed by the translators, which the Hellenes regard as unfit to be printed in the Holy Scriptures. The work was inaugurated and completed with the approval of the Metropolitan, the head of the synod of the Greek Church in Greece. The students of the university at Athens and the Greeks generally are bitterly opposed to any change in the text of their Bible, which, while of ancient origin and dating back to the Byzantine period, is understood by all and is written in the purest Greek. * * * Mass meetings were held in front of the university buildings on the afternoons of November 19 and 20, at which violent speeches were made in denunciation of the objectionable biblical translation and of all those identified with it. Large crowds of excited citizens paraded the streets, and the signs were ominous of a serious public demonstration. Yesterday, November 21, was a fête day. The shops and factories were closed and the streets were thronged with all classes of people. A public demonstration was announced to take place in the afternoon, in which it was advertised that the different labor unions would participate. Fearing the result, the Government ordered out all the mil itary troops in the city, and 800 marines were brought to Athens from the Greek men-of-war at Piraesus. Infantry, cavalry, and large bodies of gendarmes were posted at different points in the city and a cordon of marines was thrown about the palace. This show of military force had the effect of aggravating the situation, and late in the afternoon the expected collision took place between the authorities and the aroused Athenians. The mob, now numbering over 25,000, proceeded to the ministry of finance and demolished the windows of the building. Thereupon, shots were fired upon the crowd by police officers and employees of the ministry. The rioters responded with pistols and stones, and were only dispersed after a cavalry charge and several carbine volleys. A few minutes later another mob demonstration was made in front of the residence of the premier, Mr. Theotaky, and again the troops and gendarmes made use of their rifles to clear the streets. The casualties were as follows: Eight killed and upward of 60 wounded. The dead bodies and 32 of the wounded were carried to the municipal hospital. Probably as many more were wounded, but escaped identification, as they were conveyed by friends to their respective homes. That the casualties were not greater may be explained by the fact that the soldiers were unquestionably in sympathy with the sentiments of the rioters, and did not direct their fire upon the crowds, the effective shooting being done by the police or gendarmes. After a conference had been held during the night between King George and the members of the ministry and prominent citizens, the resignation of the Metropolitan, the titular head of the church in Greece, was accepted at 4 o'clock this morning (November 22). By royal decree, signed at the same hour, the director of police and the prefect of police were both removed and their positions filled by new appointees. The Government printing office issued an edition of the Official Gazette at 6 o'clock a. m. containing the above announcements. The burial of the victims of yesterday's conflict took place this afternoon. Many thousands of people followed the single funeral procession to the cemetery, every shop in Athens was closed, and on all sides profound regret and grief were expressed at the outcome of yesterday's tragedy. I have, etc., No. 45.] CHARLES S. FRANCIS. Mr. Francis to Mr. Hay. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR: I have the honor to report that yesterday priests read from every pulpit in Athens a decree of the Holy Synod which prohibits, on pain of excommunication, the sale or reading of any translation of the Bible. This action was evidently taken by the religious authorities in order to completely restore public confidence that no attempt to publish a vulgar version of the Holy Scriptures will be tolerated by the Greek Church. It will be recalled that this question precipitated a conflict in the streets of Athens on November 21 ultimo between a mob of over 25,000 students and workmen and citizens and the Government troops, in which 8 persons were killed and over 60 wounded. Several years ago Her Majesty Queen Olga, actuated by the best of motives, published at her own expense a translation of the Bible in common use (which is in the Greek of the Byzantine period) into the modern language of Greece. It was not sold, but distributed free among the hospitals and other charitable institutions of this city. While the gracious act of Her Majesty did not meet with public favor, it has never been alleged that the translator of that particular version of the Bible employed any language which could be construed as vulgar. However, in view of the action of the Holy Synod as above stated, this indirect authoritative reflection by the Church of Greece on the act of Queen Olga is likely to produce disagreeable complications. CHARLES S. FRANCIS. I am, etc., GUATEMALA AND HONDURAS. CONFISCATION OF SILVER COIN WHICH SIEGFRIED KOENIGSBERGER ATTEMPTED TO SMUGGLE OUT OF GUATEMALA. No. 299.] Mr. Hay to Mr. Hunter. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, November 27, 1900. SIR: I inclose herewith copy of a dispatch from the consul-general at Guatemala City, together with its inclosures, relating to the claim of Siegfried Koenigsberger for certain moneys confiscated by the Guatemalan customs authorities, and for the annoyance and losses attendant upon the action complained of. As nearly as the Department can gather the facts in the case it appears: That said Koenigsberger and his brother arrived at San José de Guatemala from Guatemala City on December 7, 1899, holding checks for two valises which arrived with them as baggage; that said valises were alleged to contain $2,300 in silver; that Koenigsberger was called to the office of the commandante of the port at about 9 o'clock in the evening, and upon identifying the valises was commanded to open them, which he refused to do, claiming that it was after business hours for the custom-house, and further that as he still held the checks the valises were in the hands of the railroad company; that on the following morning he was called again to the office of the commandante and ordered to open the valises, and upon his refusal he and his brother were imprisoned for about two hours, when their release was secured by the United States consul; that they were again summoned by the commandante, and in the presence of the consul opened the valises, when, on counting the money, they discovered a shortage of $508; which amount had been removed "without their knowledge or consent;" that the remainder, $1,792, was taken by the commandante and deposited in the mint, subject to the order of the minister of finance; that on the following day, while they were returning to Guatemala City, they were arrested by the chief of police of Escuintla and there detained for twenty-four hours, then ordered back to San José, still under arrest; but that on the way they received a telegram signed by the president of the Republic which secured their release. It further appears that a presidential decree had been issued, prohibiting the exportation of silver, but that said decree "has been practically a dead letter, inasmuch as thousands of dollars weekly has been exported by Government permission." From the facts as above related it would appear that for the money ($508) abstracted while in possession of and in course of transportation by the railroad company the remedy, if any, is against said company With regard to the remainder of the money, $1,792, the courts. which it is inferred was confiscated in virtue of a law prohibiting the exportation of silver from the country, it is the opinion of the Department that it was Koenigsberger's duty, when requested to do so, to submit the valises to the customs authorities for the purpose of examining them to ascertain whether they contained silver intended to be smuggled out of the country. The fact that the Messrs. Koenigsberger had applied for permission to embark and were about to leave the country and that the valises stood at the wharf would appear to justify the inference of the officials that they were about to take the valises, with their contents, from the country in violation of law. The consul-general reports that you are of opinion that the money was unlawfully seized and should be returned to its owners. If you find that the seizure and detention of the money are unlawful, you will bring the matter to the attention of the Guatemalan Government and request the prompt return of the money. It is also stated in the consul-general's report that the law against the exportation of silver does not authorize imprisonment, but only confiscation, as a penalty for smuggling. If this statement is accurate you may report to the Department whether the Messrs. Koenigsberger have an adequate remedy in damages before the local tribunals for such unlawful arrest JOHN HAY. I am, etc. No. 83.] [Inclosure.] Mr. McNally to Mr. Hill. CONSULATE-GENERAL OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of the Department's No. 42 of July 30, 1900, inclosing copy of a memorial of Siegfried Koenigsberger preferring a claim against the Government of Guatemala for $2,300 pesos silver alleged to have been confiscated by the Guatemalan Government, and $5,000 United States gold for damages said to have been sustained for loss of the use of the money and annoyance and inconvenience suffered from false imprisonment, and instructing me to make an investigation and report. Knowledge of this case first came to me through Minister Hunter, who handed me the metal checks for valises left in his care by Siegfried Koenigsberger, saying at the same time that this money must be returned to the Koenigsbergers as the seizure was unlawful. This was the day before the minister left this capital for the United States on leave. I was under the impression that Minister Hunter had made some representation to the Guatemalan Government, and therefore did not consult the Government during my short season as chargé d'affaires. I beg to inclose letters from our former consular agent at San José de Guatemala as well as from former employees of the railroad and Agencia Maritima, etc., at San José. A presidential decree was promulgated prohibiting the exportation of silver, which decree has been practically a dead letter, inasmuch as "Not printed. |
