Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-01-24
MINISTER TO PERSIA
CHARGES zEADK AGAINST MR.
PEARSON.
Full Report ReceiYed at State Depart
ment Shows They Were With
out Foundations.

In the spring of 1904 several letters were
addressed to the Department of State by
representatives Of mission board conduct
ing operations in Persia, complaining OF the
reports which had reached them that Mr..
Richard Pearson, the United States minister
at Teheran. was inefficient and addicted to
the Incorporate use of liquor. These COM
plants eliminated In memorial of the
Assyrian mission committee. signed by
Bishop Potter and communicated to the
President In the early part Of last August,
in which the charge Of incapacity and In
temperance was reiterated in general terms
Within few days thereafter Bishop Pot
ter withdrew his signature. for want of any
personal knowledge in the matter. declar-
ed his belief that there was not sufficient
evidence to warrant any tmputation upon
the character or conduct of Mr.. Pearson,
and expressed his trust that he might De al
lowed to return to his post Of duty.
Mr.. Pearson, being then In the United
States on leave, was furnished with COPIES
of the various accusations against him, ana
invited to meet them. He deferred TINS I'M
til his return to Teheran should enable him
to confront his accusers and afford them an
opportunity to substantiate their charges
by the production Of responsible evidence.
Full Report Received.
The State Department has now received
q full report from the legation. 1t appears
therefrom that evidence of Mr.. Parsons
alleged misconduct Is totally lacking. The
persons active in preferring charges could
not support them of personal knowledge,
and refused to give the names of any per-
sons who could do so. Some few accusatory
statements purporting to be of facts We're
found on investigation to be without foun-
dalton. On the other hand the voluntary
testimony of Mr.. Pearson's diplomatic col
leagues and others in constant intercourse
h4a oo1,oN hi
his correct habits and high character. The
charge of incapacity to transact public bust
ness and inaccessibility to visitors Is dis
proved by the testimony of his physician,
who attended him through recurreHt at
tacks of severe malarial fever, and who
operated upon him for the removal of an
intestinal abscess. which confined him to
his bed and room for month. AS for Mr..
Pearson's alleged Indifference to his official
duties and inefficiency in representing
American interests, the mass Of correspon-
dence on Ale in the State Department dur
ing Mr.. Pearson's incumbency of the Office
shows him to have been constantly active
and forceful in bringing about the redress
of grievances and In impressing upon the
Persian government the International duty
Of protecting American life. property and
interests.
The Labaree murder case Is in point and
the extended correspondence, when eventu-
ally printed in the departments annual
volume, will prove the zealousness and
vigor with which the just demands of the
United States were pressed by the minister
to successful recognition.
Charges Practically Anonymous
In short, on the one hand, the charges
made against Mr.. Pearson were found to
be merely hearsay and practically anony-
nous. Their authors have refused to make
them good. On the other hand, the posi-
tive testimony of their baselessness Is of
the weightiest character, and is convinc-
ing. The high reputation for capacity and
exemplary conduct which Mr. Pearson
gained during his life in Washington UNI
der the glare Of public and social surround
ings. and which commended him to this
government for appointment, first as con-
sui at Verviers and Genoa, and then as
minister at Teheran, is abundantly con-
firmed. and the department is we'll salts
fed with the frank and complete way in
which he has met the charges laid at his