ENPages
6
The Turks know this; their Ruler recognizes in the Catholic and Greek churches the friends of legitimacy and of absolutism, and in Protestantism their enemy. England is the only strong power whose people sympathise with Protestant schools in Turkey, and the policy of their Government is controled {sic} by their interest. These considerations are so closely germane to {inserted in pencil: the} subject of this despatch, that I will be excused for presenting them; and I will add, that the Catholic and Greek churches that dominate southern and eastern Europe have as little sympathy with Protestantism, as with Islamism.
My failure to assume some right to protect the native, and the recently naturalized American (since 1869) teachers in Missionary
7
Schools would mean, in my opinion the speedy arrest and prosecution or and expulsion of that class. This, the missionary leaders assert, would destroy Missionary work in Turkey. To demand in the name of my Government (what I will prudently insist on for the present, until instructed), vz.(?) the right to protect such teachers against arbitrary arrests on mere suspicion, would, I fear, be secretly opposed by the influence of all the Catholic and Greek Church powers, and even by the Catholic Ambassador of Germany (Radolin).
In this condition of affairs I will pursue the course I have indicated without straining our cordial relations until I can receive
{in pencil, written vertically along the right margin of the sheet: ** A letter was has been received from Dr Dwight of the Bible House here asking me to interferevene for the prisoners and demand as a right that no Turkish employee in an American School should be arrested except with consent of myself or a consul. {in pen, above the line: His letter +} My answer {overwritten: "is"} are enclosed.}
8
your {in pencil}specific instructions.
I have the honor to remain Your Obedient Servant, A. W. Terrell
{in pencil} While I write, your teleg cipher telegram acknowledging receipt of my ^own as to ^Marash + Aintab arrests of Turkish subjects in employment of employed by the Missionaries is received, I believe a copya copy of which is enclosed__ in appended to the overleafwhich yYou inform me what the Boston Missionary Board desires, and ^you instruct me to protest American domiciliary rights. I have no information that in this [illegible]^affair they have been in jeopardy but you will observe from all the facts, the pertainingpertinency of my the inquiry made in my telegram ^and not answered as to how ^far I may go "for the protection of subjects of Turkey engaged in ^teaching in American Schools" since [illegible] the existence of Missionary work can be destroyed by ^their capricious arrests.
In this condition of affairs the course above indicated will be pursued, but without straining friendly relations, until your instructions, regarding it can be received.