New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-04-10
PROTECTION OF CHRISTIAN CONVERTS IN
TURKEY
THE EVANGELICAL ALLIANCES MEMORIAL TO THE
SULTAN.
L. of 10 Rritich EuonOnlical

THE EVANGELICAL ALLIANCES MEMORIAL TO THE
SULTAN.
The deputatiOn of the British Evangelical
Alliance. charged with mission TO Constsnt1Eople In
behalf OF prosecuted Christian converts in Syria, have
returned to England without having had an audience
with the Sultan They believe however that their visit
was not an entire failure land that important results Of
their visit have already been secured The deputaron
consisted Of Lord Francis n. Coyningham, NJ. P Gen.
Henry T. Aylmer. R. N Fowler. Samuel Quincy Jabez
Johnson and James Davis. They were the bearers OF
memorial numerously signed, which they desired 10
present personally the Sultan. At Smyrna, on their
way TO Constantinople they met Mustapha and his son
Ali, he converts banished from Marash In
response to questions the converts denied that the Tur
ksh Government had given them permission to leave
Smyrna and 60 where they pleased except TO Marash
and that their removal from Marash for their own
safety there being religious erment in the town.
They further stated that they without employment
received nothing from the Government and would nave
starved but for the missionaries aid on arriving al
ConsantnOpe the depuaton had an interview with the
British ambassador Sir Henry Eliot, who promised TO
try TO secure audience for them with the Sultan Mean
time they received visits from members Of the Protestant
community Of COnstantinople, from the head or the
Armenian Roman Catholic Church. and Others who COM
planned OF prosecutions by Turkish authorities at Ere
-roum and Angora.
After waiting five days the deputaton informed
that the decision OF the Grand Vzier that the Sui
TAM being Caliph, religious head Of the Mohammedan
faith could receive foreign deputation on religious
matters without seriously offending Mohammedans. Re-
specting eyed persecution orders would be
gwen 10 allow Mustapha and his family TO depart rom
smyrna other place except Marah and that no
promise could be gwen concerning the Ansairyeh con
scripts deputaon then presented address 10 the
British ambassador saying they construed the refsa OF
the Grand Vizer discourtesy and represented that
they were charged 10 ask a. That the Ansairyeh con-
scripts be released from the army and restored 10 the
useful occupations which they were suddenly sepa-
rated under circumstances OF great violence and cruelty
n That the family Of Mustapha be restored 10 their
home at Marash 49, That assurances be gwen tnat tne
benevolent OF the late Sultan In the Hatt-
Humatoun be hOnorably fulfilled"
Another interview had with the British EmDas-
sador which learned that the Turkish Govern
ment had promised the American Minister 10 release
the Ansairyeh converts but though the necessary
papers had been filed with the Turkish Minister no ac
ton had been taken. Three more members Of the An
sairyeh tribe had also been seized and made military
prisoners at Damascus. The Grand VlZer offered 10
receive address OF the deputatiOn ana present III 10
the Sultan, hut this offer they declined. They how
ever left letter with the British ambassador, u be
sent the sultan in which they said that t2ey re-
earded his refusal receive them d1srespeetful 20 the
distinguished nObemen and gentlemen who signed the
address. and that they could not hold themselves u
sponsble for the alienation OF good feeling toward
ust before leaving ConstantinOple the depntati0n re-
ceved that the Porte meant no dlscOurtesy
20 the menor asts but that the sultan could not grant
the request without acting against established usage
and establishing a precedent likely 10 cause mueh III