[Inclosure 5 in No. 102.] Consul-General Abbott to Mr. Thomson. TABREEZ, November 7, 1880. SIR: With reference to my dispatch which I addressed your excellency on the 7th ultimo from Oroomiah, I have further the honor to report that on the 16th October the Ikbal-ed-Dowleh removed his camp to Badilboo, to watch the movements of a large Kurdish force stationed at Somai Beradost. The Kurds afterwards occupied Fort Ismail Agha, between Beradost and the Oroomiah plain. The Persians, in their unsuccessful attempt to dislodge them from that position, lost two guns. On the 20th October Sheikh Obeidoollah, coming from Nochea and Merghever, encamped with a considerable army on the Seir Mountain. His force and that of his son, Sedik, who took up his position at Hyderloo, were said to number 8,000 men. On the following day the sheikh sent two messengers to Oroomiah to demand the surrender of the town. The Ikbal-ed-Dowleh, who had returned from Badilboo, resolved to defend it, and fortified himself within the walls with three regiments. The attack began on the 22d of October, the enemy investing the town, on all sides, but up to the 28th they made no impression on the walls. The Kurds once effected an entrance by the Charbash gate, but were repulsed with loss. In the meantime the inhabitants offered to surrender, but the Ikbal-ed-Dowleh determined to defend the town in the attempt. I took an opportunity to recommend the Christian populations and non-combatants to the sheikh, who promised to respect their lives and property, but several villages on the Ooormiah plain were given up to plunder, which the sheikh seemed powerless to repress. I left Oroomiah on the 28th of October, under a Kurdish escort with which the sheikh furnished me, and proceeded to Tabreez, through Marghever, Ushnei, Suldouz, and Souj Boulak. The sheikh assured me that it would be unsafe to attempt the Selmas route, as his son Sedik was about to attack Taimour Pasha Khan's army in that direction. When I left Oroomiah the sheikh was encamped at the foot of the Seir Mountain with about 6,000 men. He gave me a letter to his son, Abd-el-Kader, who received me with much courtesy. The Kurdish army at Souj Boulak did not number more than 1,500 men, the majority of the tribes having left for their homes laden with booty from the Miandow plain. The region between the rivers Tataoo and Yaghetoo, through which I passed, has been utterly destroyed by the Kurds. Upwards of 2,000 villages have been burnt and 10,000 persons are said to be homeless. I ascertained that as many as 2,000 Persians had been massacred at Miandow, and that women and children had been amongst the victims. The corpses of 30 Armenians and 50 Jews had been also found there. On the other hand 90 Armenians, who had succeeded in effecting their escape, were being cared for in the villages of the Russian Tajir Bashee, near Souj Boulak. Out of a population of 330 Jews, only 13 have as yet been seen alive, and large numbers of Jewish women and children have been taken into captivity by the Kurds. Being completely at the mercy of sheikh Abd-el-Kader, I was obliged to accede to whatever arrangement he might make for getting me into the Persian lines. He informed me that an escort of 300 Kurdish cavalry would accompany me within an easy distance of the Persian camp, and I accordingly left Souj Boulak with that large force. Hamza Agha, chief of the Mangour tribe, Abdullah Khan Zerzé, his brother Ibrahim Khan, and many other noted chiefs joined the force. On arriving at Chillik, the chiefs took a somewhat abrupt leave of me, and I soon lost sight of the Kurdish cavalry; but, from the dense smoke which afterwards appeared on all sides of the plain, it became evident that they were engaged in burning the adjacent villages. I rode into many villages, which had been partially destroyed, and collected together the remaining inhabitants, warning them of the approaching danger. By this means I succeeded in saving the lives of about thirty helpless Persians, who I brought on with me in safety to Binab. I arrived on the 3d instant in the Persian camp at Binab, and immediately gave the latest intelligence of the enemy's movements and numbers to the Itimad-es-Sultaneh, who decided, in consequence, to advance upon Sonj Boulak. The army from Teheran, under the Kishmet-ed-Dowleh, arrived at Saïnkaleh on the 4th instant. The combined Persian forces amount to 20,000 men, and twenty pieces of artillery, twelve of which are Krupp guns. I learned in the Persian camp that Taimour Pasha Khan had defeated Sheikh Sedik in an engagement between Selmas and Oroomiah. The Sepah Salar has also given me the same intelligence. The Nestorian Metropolitan, Mar Yusuf, had accompanied the sheikh from Nochea to the war, and was in the Kurdish camp at Oroomiah. The sheikh had also pressed into his service about 300 mountain Nestorians. His band of musicians was entirely composed of these people. I propose sending your excellency, by next post, extracts of my diary kept at Oroomiah, there being no time to do so by the present opportunity. I saw the Sepah Salar to-day, and, from what he said, was led to suppose that Taimour Pasha Khan had succeeded in raising the siege of Oroomiah. His highness informed me that he intended going himself to Souj Boulak as soon as possible. I have, &c., No. 8. Mr. Evarts to Mr. Dawes. WILLIAM G. ABBOTT. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, SIR: Referring to your letter of the 20th ultimo, in relation to the peril to which certain American missionaries are thought to be exposed in the province of Oroomiah in Persia, and referring also to the reply of this Department, dated the 20th of last month, to your above-mentioned letter, I now have the honor to inform you that a telegram from the minister of the United States at London, dated the 11th instant, to this Department contains the intelligence that the British Government has intervened on behalf of the American missionaries in Persia, in conformity with the request of this Department. I have, &c., WM. M. EVARTS. No. 9. No. 90.] Mr. Evarts to Mr. Lowell. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, December 31, 1880. SIR: Referring to instruction No. 78 of the 24th ultimo, requesting you to ask the intervention of Her Majesty's Government for the protection of the American missionaries in Oroomiah, Persia, I have to acknowledge the receipt of your dispatches numbered 98, 99, and 102, reporting the action of Her Majesty's Government in extending to the missionaries in question the desired protection, and also furnishing interesting and valuable information in regard to their present condition. The prompt action taken by Her Majesty's Government in extending protection to the missionaries, and in furnishing full information in regard to their present condition, is exceedingly gratifying to this government, and I will therefore thank you to lose no time in conveying to the proper quarter the thanks of the President for the prompt and timely action of the British authorities in reference to this matter. I am, &c., WM. M. EVARTS. No. 10. Mr. Evarts to Mr. Dawes. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, SIR: Referring to the reply of this Department of the 26th ultimo, in reply to your letter of the 20th of that month, I now have the honor to inform you that three dispatches have been received from Mr. Lowell, the American Minister at London, from which it appears that the British Government has extended to the American missionaries at Oroomiah the desired protection. The dispatches in question also contain interesting details concerning the present condition of the American missionaries in Persia, which it will afford me pleasure to place before you when you next visit the Department. I have, &c., WM. M. EVARTS. No. 11. No. 108.] Mr. Lowell to Mr. Evarts." LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, London, January 1, 1881. (Received January 17.) SIR: I received from Lord Granville, on the 30th ultimo, two printed papers and to-day the copy of a telegram in relation to the position of the American missionaries in Persia. I have the honor to inclose copies of these documents in connection with my No. 102 of the 24th ultimo, and previous dispatches on the same subject. I have, &c., J. R. LOWELL. [Inclosure 1 in No. 108.-Translation.] Sheikh Obeidullah to Dr. Cochran. SEPTEMBER 25, 1880. (Received at the United States legation, December 30, 1880.) You have no doubt heard how that in former years the Shuja-ed-Dowleh caused 50 of my dependents to be beheaded without fault or crime, and caused me damage to the extent of 100,000 tomans. Neither the Ottoman nor the Persian Government have purity of intention. They have not gone into any of our rights. Besides this, he beat Farajullah Khan, the son of Hajji Ghafoor Khan, who was one of the Ushnoo chiefs, in such a manner that he died. Last year also the Mo'een-ed-Dowleh took Abdullah Khan and Ibrahim Khan of Ushnoo, fining them 20,000 tomans, thus utterly ruining their families. He also took three women captive. This year the governor of the Mikri district took Feizullah Beg, punishing him also, although without fault, and fined him 1,500 tomans. He also took some Tunkoos women by force from their husbands. During the last short time the governor of Souj Bonlak invited Hamzah Mankoori, who is a chief of several tribes in those parts, under the pretense of showing confidence in him, but in reality with the object of imprisoning and confining him. He made his escape out of the room, killing two men on his way, and with much difficulty freed himself. The result of this kind of occurrences of violence and oppression cannot be described. It is because of these kind of things that Kurdistan is obliged to be, and is, under the necessity of being united, and can (no longer) put up with any such base and ruinous acts. We therefore earnestly beg of you that you will fully inform and explain the matter to the British consul at Tabreez, so that, please God, the case of Kurdistan being understood, it may be inquired into. Hajji Ismaïl is therefore sent to explain the matter referred to. [Inclosure 2 in No. 108.-Translation.] Sheikh Obeidullah to Dr. Cochran. OCTOBER 5, 1880. (Received at the United States legation December 30, 1880.) I send Mollah Ismail to explain, confidentially, as I have verbally explained to him the state of affairs here, and I specially request that you will inform the English Gov ernment of the facts of the case in Kurdistan, and respecting the going of my son to Souj Boulak. The Kurdish nation, consisting of more than 500,000 families, is a people apart. Their religion is different to that of others, and their laws and customs are distinct. It is known among all nations as mischievous and corrupt. This is how Kurdistan has been depicted. If one person from among them does an evil deed a thousand peaceable and orderly persons gain an ill repute. Be it known to you for certain that this has all been caused by the laches of the Turkish and Persian authorities, for Kurdistan is in the midst between these two countries, and both governments, for their own reasons, do not distinguish between good and evil characters. It is thus that bad characters remain unreformed, and respectable people get an ill repute, and become ruined. Among other evil things, you have probably heard of the tribe of Ali Agha Shekak, who are famous for their evil and ruin-causing deeds, ruinous alike to native and foreign sects, Mohammedans and others. Every government has heard of their wicked doings. Owing to neglect or want of power on the part of Persia, these people will never be civilized, and will remain in their savage state. The evil deeds of the Harkee tribe, who are Turkish subjects, are also apparent. The Ottoman Government also, like the Persian, either has not the means of civilizing these people or else neglects them. Kurdistan has got a bad reputation, and has been disgraced. Distinction is not made between peaceable and evil-disposed persons. The chiefs and rulers of Kurdistan, whether Turkish or Persian subjects, and the inhabitants of Kurdistan, one and all, are united and agreed that matters cannot be carried on in this way with the two governments, and that necessarily something must be done, so that European governments having understood the matter, shall inquire into our state. We also are a nation apart. We want our affairs to be in our own hands, so that in the punishment of our own offenders we may be strong and independent and have privileges like other nations; and respecting our offenders, we are ready to take upon ourselves that no harm or damage shall accrue to any nation. This is our object, and the reasons of my son's going to Souj Boulak, so as to obtain inquiry into the state of Kurdistan, and no mischief occur, otherwise the whole of Kurdistan will take the matter into their own hands, as they are unable to put up with these continual evil deeds, and the oppression which they suffer at the hands of the two governments. [Telegram from Mr. Thompson.] L. TEHERAN, December 30, 1880. I am informed by American missionaries at Oroomiah that they have been very graciously received by the Sepah Salar, and that the latter assured them that they would be protected, and that the reports circulated against them met with no credence at the hands of the Persian Government. No. 12. Sir Edward Thornton to Mr. Blaine. WASHINGTON, March 15, 1881. (Received March 16.) SIR: In compliance with an instruction which I have received from Earl Granville, I have the honor to transmit herewith copy of letters written by Her Majesty's consul-general at Tabreez, respecting the false reports circulated to the prejudice of the American missionaries at Oroomiah, of their complicity with Sheikh Obeidullah, and the measures adopted by that officer to remove the erroneous impression thus produced. I have, &c., EDW'D THORNTON. [Inclosure in Sir Edward Thornton's note to Mr. Blaine.] Consul-General Abbott to Earl Granville. TABREEZ, December 30, 1880. MY LORD: I have the honor to transmit to your lordship copies of two dispatches and an inclosure which I have addressed to Her Majesty's minister at Teheran respect ing the false reports circulated to the prejudice of the American missionaries at Oroomiah, of their complicity with Sheikh Obeidullah, and the measures adopted by me to remove the erroneous impression thus produced, as well as for the protection of those gentlemen and their families. Trusting that your lordship will approve of the action I have taken in this matter, I have, &c., WILLIAM G. ABBOTT. [Inclosure in Mr. Abbott's note to Earl Granville.] Consul-General Abbott to Mr. Thomson. TABREEZ, December 10, 1880. SIR: I had this day the honor to send your excellency the following cipher telegram, marked No. 14: "American missionaries in their last letters to me state that their relations with Persian authorities at Oroomiah are cordial, and that the false reports regarding them had greatly subsided. On receipt of your telegram I had interview with foreign office agent, who promised to communicate with Veli Ahd, and that instructions on subject would be sent immediately by express messenger to Sepeh Salar, who was very probably already at Oroomiah." During the investment of Oroomiah by the Kurdish insurgents the American missionaries were placed in a very difficult position. Sheikh Obeidullah encamped with his army outside the town, in the immediate vicinity of the college buildings, and it would have been the height of imprudence if the missionaries had assumed a demeanor of open hostility towards him, or failed to take advantage of the friendly feelings he professed for them. But they were careful, at the same time, to give convincing proofs that their sentiments towards the Persian authorities were as cordial as ever and remained unimpaired. They behaved throughout with unexampled loyalty. Every communication they received from the sheikh was, at my suggestion, made known to the governor of Oroomiah; and when an assault upon the town seemed imminent they afforded shelter to as many of their Persian neighbors as their premises in the city would accommodate. This was done to remove the erroneous impression that they were only anxious to save Christians. Monseigneur Cluzel, the French archbishop, having invoked my protection for himself and the members of the Lazarist mission, I sent a message to the sheikh on their behalf, and the Sisters of Charity were invited by the American ladies to reside with them at the college till the danger was over, but did not accept the invitation. The Union Jack floated side by side with the Stars and Stripes over the college buildings, and an inscription in Persian was affixed to the gates, The residence of the English consul and the American missionaries." Upwards of 300 Nestorians took refuge within the precincts of the American college, and a large number of Persians. The mission house in town was held by the Rev. Mr. Whipple, at considerable risk to his life. I take this opportunity of stating officially that such reports as those which have been circulated to the prejudice of the American missionaries are mischievous slanders, completely devoid of truth. The United States have every reason to be proud of men who, at all times conspicuous for their practical piety, displayed at Oroomiah, amidst famine, pestilence, and war, a coolness and pluck which will never be forgóten by those who were present during that season of trial. In making representations to the Azerbaijan authorities on behalf of the missionaries, I have brought the preceding facts to their notice, and intimated that any molestation offered to those gentlemen or their families would be viewed with grave displeasure by Her Majesty's Government. I have, &c., WILLIAM G. ABBOTT. [Inclosure 2 in Mr. Abbott's note to Earl Granville.] Mr. Abbott to Mr. Thompson. TABREEZ, December 29, 1880. SIR: I had this day the honor to send your excellency the following telegram in cipher, marked No. 18: "Oroomiah letter, dated 23d instant, from American missionaries, informs me that they have met with very gracious reception from Sepeh Salar, who assured them of H. Ex. 151-2 |