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 COMMISSIONERFROM 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 proceedingank 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!