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his willingness to afford them protection, and that Persian Government gave no credence to slanders circulated against them."

I inclose an extract of the letter referred to above.
I have, &c.,

WILLIAM G. ABBOTT.

No. 13.

Mr. Blaine to Mr. Dawes.

WASHINGTON, March 17, 1881.

SIR: Referring to your letter of the 20th of November last, in relation to the dangers then threatening certain American missionaries at Oroomiah, in Persia, and to the subsequent correspondence on the same subject, I now have the honor to transmit herewith for your information a copy of a note [from the British minister], dated the 15th instant, with copies of the letters therein referred to, which were written by Her Majesty's consul-general at Tabreez, respecting the false reports circulated to the prejudice of American missionaries at Oroomiah, of their complicity with Sheik Obeidullah, and the measures adopted by that officer to remove the erroneous impression thus produced.

I have the honor, &c.,

JAMES G. BLAINE.

(For inclosure, Sir Edward Thornton's note of March 15, 1881, vide ante, No. 12.)

No. 14.

Mr. Blaine to Sir Edward Thornton.

DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
Washington, March 18, 1881.

SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your note of the 15th instant, transmitting copy of letters written by Her Majesty's consulgeneral at Tabreez, respecting the false reports circulated to the prejudice of the American missionaries at Oroomiah, Persia, of their com plicity with Sheik Obeidullah, and the measures adopted by that officer to remove the erroneous impression thus produced.

In view of the deep interest felt in this country concerning the fate of the above-mentioned American missionaries, the letters communicated by your note have been read with much gratification; and I therefore beg you to have the kindness to convey to Mr. Abbott, Her Maj esty's consul-general at Tabreez, the thanks of the President for the active and efficient measures adopted by him for the protection of the American missionaries in Persia.

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SIR: On the 18th of March instant, I received

Mr. Labarre, of Oroomiah, Persia, expressing the gratitude of the Amer

letter from the Rev.

can missionaries there for the intervention of the British Government in their behalf, and also for the kind suggestion to that effect made by the Department of State.

I have sent a copy of Mr. Labarre's letter to Lord Granville and the Prince Malcom Khan, the minister of Persia at this court, and I now have the honor to inclose herewith copies of Mr. Labarre's letter and of Prince Malcom's reply to my communication.

I have, &c.,

J. R. LOWELL.

[Inclosure 1 in No. 148.]

Mr. Labarre to Mr. Lowell.

OROOMIAH, PERSIA, February 15, 1881. DEAR SIR: A few weeks since, in an interview with his highness the Sepah Salar, the Shah's minister of war, he told us that he had that morning received a communication stating that Earl Granville, at the request of the American minister in London, acting under instructions from his government, had telegraphed to the British minister in Teheran, directing him to request of the Shah's government the efficient protection of the American missionaries in Oroomiah, exposed to peculiar dangers in consequence of the invasion of the Kurdish Sheik Obeidullah.

His highness proceeded to assure us of the confidence of the Shah's government in the integrity and sincerity of all our actions, and its appreciation of benevolent labors among the subjects of His Majesty the Shah.

He relieved us of all anxiety lest the charges of the ignorant populace of complicity with the Sheik had made any unfavorable impression on his mind, in cordial and emphatic language. At other times he took special pains in public to show his regard for us, and assure us of the fullest protection of the government.

When leaving he commended us particularly to the care of his brother, his excellency the Nasar-ul-Moolk, remaining as military governor, who has shown us marked attention, visiting our schools, and evincing much interest in the welfare of the Christian population.

We desire to express to our government, and to the British Government, as also to yourself, our hearty appreciation of the kind and very opportune action taken in our behalf. The peculiar exigency of our situation, such unexpected interposition on the part of our government, and its happy effects, lifting from us a heavy load of anxiety, all go to swell our gratitude and strengthen our loyal esteem for the noble administration at the head of affairs in our native land.

You would confer on us a further favor if you would express to the Persian minister in London, an intelligent Christian gentleman, I am told, our appreciation of the favor shown us by his his highness the Sepah Salar, a man of much merit and culture, and by the Nasar-ul-Moolk, a man of liberal opinions and kind disposition to foreigners. With sentiments of very sincere personal esteem, I remain, in behalf of the American missionaries, very truly, &c.,

BENJ. LABARRE, JR.

[Inclosure 2 in No. 148.]

Prince Malcom Khan to Mr. Lowell.

MARCH 24, 1881.

MY DEAR COLLEAGUE: I am plunged into deep grief; I can but feebly express the feelings which I experienced on reading the letter of the Rev. B. Labarre, jr. I have always considered the presence of your missionaries in Persia as a providential blessing. I do not speak of their religious mission, but of the admirable and far more praiseworthy efforts which they make to shed the light of European education throughout the entire East. I can assure you, moreover, that the eminently liberal spirit of His Majesty the Shah, and the intelligent men who are now his counselors, fully appreciates the value of the services rendered by your worthy countrymen to the cause of civilization in Persia.

The Sepah Salar and his brother are my intimate friends, and they will be glad to learn, through me, how highly their sentiments are appreciated by the Rev. B. Labarre. As to myself, I have always gladly availed myself of every opportunity to lend my feeble aid to these apostles of a civilization which I so earnestly desire to see introduced into my country.

I have, &c.,

MALCOM.

No. 16.

Mr. Blaine to Mr. Dawes.

DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
Washington, April 14, 1881.

SIR: I have the honor to inclose herewith, for your information, a copy of a dispatch from Mr. Lowell, transmitting copies of letters from the Reverend Mr. Labarre, and the Persian minister in London, in relation to the British intervention on behalf of the American missionaries at Oroomiah, Persia.

I have the honor, &c.,

JAMES G. BLAINE.

(For inclosure, Mr. Lowell's No. 148 of March 25, 1881, vide ante, No. 15.)

No. 17.

Mr. Blaine to Mr. Lowell.

No. 145.]

DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, April 14, 1881. SIR: I have to acknowledge the receipt of your dispatch No. 148, of the 25th ultimo, inclosing copies of letters from the Rev. Mr. Labarre and the Persian minister in London, in relation to the British intervention on behalf of the American missionaries at Oroomiah.

I have communicated the contents of your dispatch to the Hon. Rufus R. Dawes, the member of Congress, who brought the subject to the attention of the Department.

I am, sir, &c.,

JAMES G. BLAINE.

No. 18.

Sir Edward Thornton to Mr. Blaine.

WASHINGTON, May 19, 1881. (Received May 20.)

SIR: With reference to my note of the 15th of March last, relative to the American missionaries at Oroomiah, I have the honor, in accordance with an instruction from Earl Granville, to transmit herewith, for the information of the Government of the United States, copy of a dispatch addressed to his lordship by Her Majesty's minister to Persia, accompanied by the copy of a letter to the latter from the above-mentioned missionaries.

I have, &c.,

EDWARD THORNTON.

[Inclosure 1 in Sir Edward Thornton's note to Mr. Blaine.]

Mr. Thomson to Earl Granville.

TEHERAN, March 12, 1881.

MY LORD: I have the honor to inclose herewith, for your lordship's information, copy of a letter which I have received from the Rev. Mr. Labaree, the chief of the

American missionary establishment at Oroomiah, thanking me for the orders which I had procured from the Persian Government, as reported in my dispatch No. 9, of the 21st January, forbidding all persecution of converts from Judaism to Christianity.

Mr. Labaree has requested me to convey to Her Majesty's Government, on the part of the American missionaries, the expression of their gratitude for the important communication made by your lordship to the Persian Government on their behalf during the recent Kurdish disturbances in Oroomiah, the support thus given having been of great service to them, and having relieved them of much anxiety.

The regulations (Kitabcheh) for the treatment of the Nestorians at Oroomiah, to which Mr. Labaree refers in the second paragraph of his letter, are those which were forwarded by the Persian minister for foreign affairs to the authorities in Tabreez before their purport was communicated to me. These regulations were subsequently revised and modified, as I had the honor to inform your lordship in my dispatch No. 23, of the 13th February, in which I reported the arrangements made with the Persian Government for redressing the grievances of the Nestorian community in this country. I have, &c..

RONALD F. THOMSON.

[Inclosure 2 in Sir Edward Thornton's note to Mr. Blaine.]

Mr. Lebarre to Mr. Thomson.

OROOMIAH, February 16, 1881.

DEAR SIR: By our last mail I received from Mr. Abbott two orders obtained by yourself from the Persian foreign office, forbidding all prosecution of converts from Judaisin to Christianity in Oroomiah and Kurdistan. Allow me to express the sincere thanks of myself and colleagues for your able service to the cause of religious liberty in Persia by the procuring of these important orders, as well as for the promptness of your action on the presentation of the case to your notice.

Such a concession of entire religious freedom to all non-Moslem sects is in striking contrast with the condition of affairs in the country twenty-five years ago, when even Nestorians were beaten and imprisoned for adherence to evangelical teachings. Certainly we are encouraged to hope there may be still further progress made in this direction.

We are quite surprised to learn that the new serparest mirza, Hashem Khan, has just received a new "Kitabcheh "* from the foreign office quite hostile to our work. He holds it in abeyance, at the suggestion of the Nasseer-el-Mulk, until it is seen how matters turn in Teheran; but it is intimated to us that the new orders greatly restrict our schools and forbid our teaching religion. This, if carried out, will be an amazing step backwards. Our schools were never more popular than this winter. More than 1,600 pupils are in attendance, against about 1,300 last year.

I embrace this opportunity to convey the thanks of the missionaries in Oroomiah to the British Government and yourself, for the important communication made through you by Earl Granville to the Persian Government in our behalf during the recent disturbances in this province. The friendly support of our own and the British Government at that juncture was of great service to us and lifted a heavy load of anxiety from us. We are deeply grateful for the kindness done us. The Sepah Salar showed us marked courtesy, as has done his brother, the Nasseer-el-Mulk. The latter desires to be remembered to you.

In behalf of the American missionaries.

Very truly yours,

BENJ. LABAREE.

No. 118.]

No. 19.

Mr. Foster to Mr. Blaine..

LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES,

St. Petersburg, May 21, 1881. (Received June 10.) SIR: Reciprocating a visit which had been made to the legation on yesterday, I called upon his highness Siépehsalar-Azam-Hadji-MirzaHoussein-Khan, ambassador extraordinary of the Shah of Persia, sent to congratulate the Emperor of Russia on his accession to the throne.

*Instruction.

In the course of the conversation which ensued, the prince expressed regret that the United States did not maintain some kind of official relations with Persia, notwithstanding a treaty of friendship and commerce existed contemplating such relations. He said that American vessels visited Persian ports, and there were American citizens in the country, and that a chargé d'affaires could be maintained at no great expense, as living was very cheap in Teheran.

replied that I recognized the desirability of having more intimate relations with his country, and I would suggest to my government the propriety of taking some action to that end. I said that I desired him, on his return to Persia, to express to His Majesty the Shah my thanks, as the diplomatic representative of my government nearest to his dominions, for the protection and favor which had been extended to the American citizens resident in his territory, and to assure His Majesty that all his acts in that direction would be highly gratifying to the Government of the United States.

The prince stated that the American missionaries in Persia, who constituted the greater portion of our citizens in that country, had been charged with complicity with the Turks during the recent Kurdish troubles, and that he had been appointed by his government to investigate the charge, which he had found to be without foundation, and he had thus been able to vindicate them from what would have proven a serious offense.

I expressed my gratification at this result, and assured him that such charges did not comport with the character and usual conduct of American missionaries, who were accustomed to loyally respect the authorities and observe the laws of the countries in which they resided. In this connection it may be proper to remark that when I passed through London a year ago, on my way to my present post, I met in St. James Palace the Persian minister to Great Britain, who expressed the same wish, that our government would send a representative to his country. I have been informed that when the Shah was in the city some years ago, in an interview with the then consul-general at St. Petersburg, he also manifested a similar desire. From all these utterances I have no doubt that a representative of our government would receive a hearty welcome. Our commercial relations with Persia at present are very limited, but it might offer something of a field for American enterprise if properly encouraged. As already mentioned, the missionaries established there are the chief American residents needing official protection, and in the absence of which they have, I believe, had resort to the English diplo matic and consular representatives. Should it not be deemed practicable to establish a permanent representative in the country, it might be regarded as desirable by the Department to have either the minister at St. Petersburg or at Constantinople, at some convenient time, pay a visit to the Shah at Teheran as the bearer of a letter from the President. I think that such a visit would have a beneficial effect in securing more protection to American residents, who are often exposed to great peril, and might lead to the opening of some commercial relations or the introduction of American enterprises. I have no doubt that either the Russian or the Turkish Government would lend its good offices to the Amer ican representative, by securing a safe passage to and a friendly reception at Teheran.

I am, sir, &c.,

JOHN W. FOSTER.

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