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Enclosure N^o 1 with Despatch N^o 51. of Dec 25 1894.

Copy

Mersine, Turkey
Dec 20 1894

Hon. Thomas R. Gibson
U.S. Consul
Beirut, Syria,

Dear Sir,

We have read your prompt --
and reassuring letter of 15--^th December.
Be assured of our appreciation of your
efficient action. Your ask "who are the
girls and why are they demanded."
Rev. J. C. Martin could not remember
their names. The Valy told him that he
would not allow Moslem girls, or
children, in Christian shools and this is
the reason of the demand for the girls.

For forty one years our Mission
has been in operation, during all of
which time Moslem children have
been in our schools. Most of these
have not had a single christian in
them, while some are mixed, but
none have been exclusively for
Christians. For over thirty years I

Mersine, Turkey
Dec 20, 1894

Dear Sir,
We have read your [powerful] -
and reassuring letter of 15th- December.
Be assured of our appreciation of your efficient action. Your ask "who are the firls and why are they [demanded]." Reverend J.C. Martin could not remember their names. The {...} told him that he would not allow {moslem} girls, or children, {...} Christian {shoots} and this is the reason of the demand for the girls.
For forty one years our Mission has been in operation, during all of which time Moslem children have been in our schools. Most of these have not had a single christian in them, while some are mixed, but none have been exclusively for Christians. For over thrirty years {V J}