Armenians and that he had advised them to assassinate some of their fellow Christians in order that the crime might be attributed to Musselmans. Quite recently Mr. Knapp has used abusive language toward the Musselmans passing in front of his house and has sought to provoke the Musselman population to fresh troubles. All these facts are established by judicial examination. Besides Hamazasp, Serape, and Mr. Knapp's servant, the persons whose names follow have also made deposition against this missionary. (Here follow nineteen Armenian names.) No. 919.] Mr. Terrell to Mr. Olney. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, Constantinople, July 13, 1896. (Received July 30.) SIR: I have the honor to inform you that the Rev. Mr. Baird, a missionary educator, has gone to Bitlis to supply the place of the Rev. George Knapp. In pursuance of the agreement with me by the Turkish Government that when a missionary was withdrawn another should take his place, every facility was afforded to Mr. Baird by trav eling teskereh, etc., by the Government. I have, etc., A. W. TERRELL. No. 939.] IMPRISONMENT OF AMERICANS AT ALEPPO. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR: I have the honor to call your attention to the inclosed note just received from Mr. Poche (consular agent at Aleppo), which was in response to an inquiry made by Mr. Riddle when acting as chargé d'affaires, and which shows the imprisonment at Aleppo of certain naturalized citizens of the United States. Yesterday (August 4) I called upon both the Grand Vizier and the foreign minister, and in person presented my written demand for their release, a copy of which is inclosed. I verbally notified the Porte that I expected a suspension of proceedings against Serkis Havonassian, Hagob Jamogodjian, and Mardiros Simonian, who claimed American citizenship, but possessed no evidence thereof. The interview resulted in an assurance that the matter will be brought at once, without the usual delay, to the attention of the Sultan, and my demand for compliance with the surrender of the men in accordance with the modus vivendi agreed upon by him personally with me. That modus vivendi limits the right to expel undesirable persons to those who have been naturalized since 1869 without the Sultan's consent and prohibits unnecessary imprisonment. Unless notified before August 8 that the men will be delivered I will renew pressure at t...orte and, if necessary, at the palace. I have, etc., A. W. TERRELL. [Inclosure 1 in No. 939.-Translation.] Mr. Poche to Mr. Riddle. ALEPPO, July 10, 1896. Mr. CHARGÉ D'AFFAIRES: On receipt of your telegram of the 6th instant, as follows Visit nine Americans in prison, examine their right to American protection, and send report. RIDDLE I hastened to place myself in communication with the vali, and yesterday, 9th instant, I proceeded to an investigation in the presence of the procureur général, the dragoman of the vali, and the prisoners in question. From an examination of the papers seized by the local authorities it appears that among them are the five following certificates of naturalization: (1) Boghos Chertigian, (2) Nigoghos Vanian, both dated Boston, January 10, 1895; (3) Cenekerian Boujuklian, dated Boston, June 1, 1895; (4) Ephrem Gajarian, dated Boston, January 1, 1895; (5) Setrag Arakelian, dated Boston, June 1, 1895. In addition to their naturalization certificates the above-named five persons have passports. (6) Serkis Balian, who has shown me his naturalization certificate, declares that he has lost his passport. The three other persons-Serkis der Havannessian, Hagob Jamgodjian, and Mardiros Simonian-allege that they have lost their certificates and passports, but furnish the following information in order that their claim to American citizenship may be investigated: The first of these, Serkis der Havannessian, says that his passport and certificate were delivered to him in Boston, January 10, 1895. The second, Hagob Jamgodjian (a native of Eghin, Turkey), claims that his certificate and passport were given him January 10, in Boston city post-office. The third, Mardiros Simonian, was naturalized in Providence, R. I., and formerly had a passport dated January 17, 1895, No. 17244. Such, Mr. Chargé d'Affaires, is the information I have in regard to the nationality of these prisoners. In the course of my conversation with his excellency Raif Pasha, I found out that he had been instructed to begin the trial of these persons and to judge them, no matter what their nationality might be. The vali added that he did not at all approve of the expulsion-pure and simple-of these individuals, as that would be a repetition of the mistake committed in the case of the leaders of the Zeitoun revolt. Raif Pasha's idea seems to be to punish these persons, who he says have come to stir up disturbances and to excite the subjects of the Sultan to revolt. Inclosed with this I have the honor to transmit to you the original of the request addressed to me by Boghos Chertigian, who in signing used his pseudonym, Avedis Vartanian. As you well imagine, the certificates and other papers mentioned above remain in the hands of the procureur général, and will not be delivered to this consular office until orders are sent from the central authority. Awaiting your instructions, I have, etc., FREDERIC POCHE. No. 132.] [Inclosure 2 in No. 939.] Mr. Terrell to Tevfik Pasha. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR: I have learned with astonishment that six naturalized American citizens have for several weeks been confined in prison at Aleppo on a charge of disloyalty to the Imperial Government. Their names are Boghos Chertigian, Nigoghos Vanian, Cenekerian Boujuklian, Ephrem Gajarian, Setrag Arakelian, and Serkis Balian. All except the last named have American passports. After the imprisonment in that town last year, and his delivery to me after much delay, of Malcoun Guedjian, it is to be regretted that the local authorities have again disregarded my agreement with His Imperial Majesty, which requires that such men be delivered to me or to a consular officer. I now demand their immediate surrender to me here, or to the consular agent at Alexandretta, as may be preferred by your excellency. Receive, excellency, etc., TERRELL. Mr. Terrell to Mr. Olney. [Telegram.] LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, Constantinople, August 10, 1896. Serkis der Havannessian and Hogop Pamgodjian claim American citizenship, and say they received passports at Boston January 10, 1895. Mardiros Simonian claims he received passport numbered 17244, dated January 17, 1895. Passport not produced. Inform me if they are naturalized citizens of the United States. These three are imprisoned as revolutionists at Aleppo with six others who have proper passports. Have demanded their release of and informed Turkish Government that immediate surrender to me is expected, and that their expulsion from Turkey will not be objected to. Mr. Rockhill to Mr. Terrell. TERRELL. [Telegram.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Sarkisder Havannessian received passport 19175 January 12, 1895; Mardiros Simoonian, 19244, January 15. No record Hogop Pomgodjian or any similar name at that time or since ninety-two. ROCKHILL, Acting. Mr. Terrell to Mr. Olney. [Telegram.] CONSTANTINOPLE, August 11, 1896. Poche telegraphs six Armenian naturalized citizens of the United States in prison at Aleppo clamor for more food. A demand for their delivery required by modus vivendi not answered. I believe they are revolutionists. Mr. Terrell to Mr. Olney. TERRELL. No. 945.] LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, Constantinople August 12, 1896. (Received Aug. 28.) SIR: I have the honor to inclose a copy of a telegram from Consular Agent Poche of August 10, informing me that naturalized American prisoners at Aleppo clamor for more food. I inclose also a copy of my telegram to Consul Madden at Smyrna, forwarded for the information of the captain of the San Francisco. The prisoners are reported as revolutionists by a former telegram from Poche. I have, etc., [Inclosure 1, in No. 945.-Telegram.] Mr. Poche to Mr. Terrell. A. W. TERRELL. ALEPPO, August 10, 1896. Nine prisoners exhausted their means and claim help. Vali informed. Says he can not allow more than 300 drams (3 pounds) of bread according to regulation. РОСНЕ. N. B.-Three of the nine prisoners mentioned have not proved their naturalization. [Inclosure 2 in No. 945.-Telegram.] Mr. Terrell to Mr. Madden. CONSTANTINOPLE, August 11, 1896. Consular Agent Poche telegraphs that six naturalized American citizens are in prison at Aleppo clamoring for food, which is refused. Inform captain of San Francisco that the seaport for Aleppo is Alexandretta. Inform me immediately when other American war boats reach Smyrna. TERRELL. Mr. Terrell to Mr. Olney. [Telegram.] PERA, August 18, 1896. Consular Agent at Aleppo telegraphs the situation of prisoners is unchanged and that the civil authorities have refused to issue travel ing permit for Mrs. Papazian, native American wife of naturalized citizen of the United States, who is professor in Aintab College, and is proceeding with her two children to her home in Massachusetts. TERRELL. No. 952.] Mr. Terrell to Mr. Olney. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, Constantinople, August 19, 1896. (Received Sept. 3.) SIR: I have the honor to inform you that on the 15th instant I despaired of obtaining from the Porte the release of the naturalized American citizens now in prison at Aleppo, or of procuring permission for the wives of more than forty American citizens to rejoin their husbands in America. The difficulty was at the palace. Thereupon the original of the inclosed note was sent to Tahsin Bey, the chief secretary of the Sultan, demanding an audience. No answer was returned by the secretary, but on the same day the inclosed note was received from Izzet Bey, a subordinate functionary at the palace, who for himself informed me that His Majesty was too busy to receive me before Friday next (seven days). On Monday, August 17, I sent by my dragoman the inclosed note to Tahsin Bey, inquiring whether the Sultan authorized the note signed by Izzet, and requesting a written answer. My dragoman was informed by both Izzet and Tahsin that my last note had been communicated to the Sultan and that he authorized the note sent by Izzet; but no writ ten answer was sent to me. I inclose the note from my dragoman, Mr. Gargiulo, regarding that interview. Thus deprived of access to the Sultan, who naturally desired to avoid being charged with violating the modus vivendi agreed on between us two years ago (and which prohibited his imprisonment of naturalized American citizens), it seemed my plain duty to telegraph you regard ing the situation. A copy of my telegram is inclosed. The Sultan and Porte, under three successive administrations, have recognized our modus vivendi, on making which the Sultan grasped my hand over two years ago. Under it, Mooradian, Krikor Arakelian, and Melcoun Guedjian (besides others) were surrendered to me. Efforts for relief at the Porte have been persistent. I have, etc., [Inclosure 1 in No. 952.] A. W. TERRELL. Mr. Terrell to Tahsin Bey. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR: I request that you present my compliments to His Imperial Majesty and inform him that I demand a personal audience with him under instructions from my Government. 1 Receive, excellency, etc. A. W. TERRELL. |