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I eo Yd, ve on at Wc 0 frig krere tne nonoz te refer to a Agepatch & ted June 14th from the American Consul at Bagdad regarding the situation of Auericans at Mardin. According to this-de= spateh the American missionaries in that place’have been subjected to hardehipe ty the looal Turkish authorities and the lives of Christiags have been menaced by the Koslems. “ Gonsui Owens telegraphed me a summary of kis report + Mardin. Tne Department will note accept Ur. Rattigan’ gestion, ap I aid not desire to be led into joint representations to the Turkish Government « iL feel that I am able to do more on behalf of the Americans in the interiot myself than by working through the Allies. Bspec- I do not believe it would nélp to be associated with them in I have the honor to be, Sir, Your obedient ss = UNITED STATES HIGH COMMISSIONER FROM W, H. ANDERSON, STATEDEP'T DATE 9 Hof 867 SUBSTANCE OF THIEGRAK Y.Ci2 VED TRO‘ HICK camissr@ BAGDAD ‘The Politicnl Officer at Mosul repo:ts, accord- ing to truetworthy information the following situation Mardin: The position of the Chrivtian population is very precarious. No Christian te allowed tc leave the town even to work on his land- The surrounding tribes have been authorized to massacre any Christian found outside the town. The Turke carry off girls grom the Auerican rphenage, keep them for the night and return then to the Orphenage the next day. 7 ‘The American Misston has been forced to give up the money in their cash-bax to the Turkish authorities. ‘The Consu’l-ofthe United States has been informed _ of the proceeding ank Rattigans Boge, Acting British High Comtestoner, Con/ple ANDERSON, STATE DEP'T DATE 9 Aoé 9e7 BneLerure Now July 21st 1922, I beg to nowludee 3 i,t of your letter of the ecowunieating a resume of a telenram thie received from the British High Counisstoner at céad regarding the situation at Marddn. From this teleerom it would appeer that the:Ghristian popu: fon in the Lierdin district ae well rs the Acezicun orphanage there were in danger+ ‘The High Commission resently rozeived a telecram from the Delegate of this High Commi scion at Bagdad summarizing the information contained in your letter. In order therefore to obtein first-hand infomation sardine the situation in Mardin a telegram was sent directly to the Anericans in that City, to which e reply was received stating that they were well but not men- tioning any of the difficulties to Which your couainia thon refers. It of course possible that this omiseion was due to the difficulty of sending a message through the Turkish censorship. In “Ler of the above, I go not feol that it vould uceful .urpose at the present time to attonpt to nuke reo ions through the Subiire Porte. I sent evently appreciate, however, the fact that you commni- ented to me the eyerts which you had receiveé. I shall arnan e to cet into direct touch with the Aue her detaile of the at Uardin te ontain ‘ation in ab distri Respect uly sf Mark L. Bristol leorsAdniral, US Navy ED STATHS HicH cou.1!

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