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Enclosure No 2 with dispatch No of Decr 25. 1894.
Copy. St. Paul's Institute Tarsus Dec. 11. 1894 Thomas R. Gibson Esq. U. S. Consul, Beirut
My dear Sir,
Permit me to call your attention to some matters of importance here. I may premise by saying that this is an American School of College grade; with a Board of Trustees in New York City, whose resident is Rev. H. M. MacCracken D.D. Chancellor of the University of the city of New York. It is also formally recognized as such by the Turkish Department of Instruction, and holds the regular "Rou Khsat" as prescribed by law. In every respect the requirements of the Turkish law relating to schools of this grade have been complied with.
(1) In October one of our teachers Rev. Krikor Behesnehian, when on his way from Marash to join us, was arrested and imprisoned in Adana, along with four of our pupils. They lay there forty
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days. No charges were made against them. Their books and papers were examined and declared free of blame. The Vali promised me they shoud be released and sent to Tarsus. But instead of this, they were all forwarded to Marash under guard, and forbidden to return. The absence of their teacher has very seriously embarrassed to work of the school. I should have written you at once of the matter, but by irregularity which I hope you will pardon I addressed my complaint directly to our Minister at Constantinople,- from whom I have as yet received no reply.
(2) Yesterday, another of our teachers, Mr. Michael Minassian, was arrested and taken to Adana. No charges were made against him and indeed no charges can be laid to his account, for he is a thoroughly upright, conscientious man, absorbed in his work of teaching and never having had the slightest connection with forbidden societies. etc. We fear, from past
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experiences, that it will be long ere we see him again.
Is there no security against such perfectly arbitrary arrests! You will pardon us for seeing in them and in other facts an indication of unscrupulous hostility against all our schools. May we not ask your kind assistance? Indeed, it is our hearty wish that you would come up here to Mersine, Tarsus and Adana to examine into these matters, and give us the pleasure of personal acquaintance with you. Be assured, it is with very great reluctance that I depart from my ordinary ways of work to call in help from Government, but there seems no other way of protecting our school from another attack. We have always inculcated upon our pupils the duty of rendering prompt and loyal obediance to the Government of their country. I may rightfully claim, also, that the school - like all others managed by Americans - is doing the highest
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possible resource to the State, by raising up thoroughly trained and conscientious men to take part in every good work pertaining to the common weal. I honestly think we are deserving of a somewhat different recompense from that which it seems to please certain officials to mete out to us.
With sentiments of high respect believe me, my dear Sir,
Yours in sincerity, (Sig) Thomas D. Christie President of Institute
{written in pen on the long axis along the right margin: [Sh...?] Dec 25 Mersene} {written in pencil below: Metheny}
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Enclosure 1/9/ Copy. No51 United States Consulate Beirut December 25. 1894.
Honorable Luther Short Consul General of the United States Constantinople
Sir,
x x x x x
I beg now to bring to your attention and the notice of our honorable Minister the enclosed complaints from Mersine and Tarsus. I have endeavored in every way possible to temporize and stare off trouble, but it looks at this distance as if it is impossible. From the number of demands and threats and demonstrations on the partof the Governor of Adana and from the closing of churches and schools at Beylan and Aintab it appears that the Armenian question and other difficulties are on in this district, not with the violence and activity that mark affairs on the far interior but with sufficient force to alarm our Missionaries and to call for the powerful protection