Chapter XXXVIII: Echoes From Smyrna

As throwing some light on the spirit in which the foregoing pages have been written, I append the following letters, the first two from American missionary associations, the third from a committee of prominent Turks at Smyrna:

“AMERICAN BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS FOR FOREIGN MISSIONS
Incorporated 1812

Congregational House,
14 Beacon Street
Boston, Massachusetts.

March 22, 1923.

“Doctor George Horton, American Consul-General, Care Consular
Bureau, State Dept., Washington, D. C.

“Dear Doctor Horton:

“Enclosed is a letter written by Mr. Getchell in behalf of the
missionaries of Smyrna, addressed to Doctor Barton, to have
been handed to you on board the steamer which you in some way
failed to take.

“It was thus delayed and reached my hands only yesterday.

“Please accept the sentiments expressed although unfortunately
so long delayed in transmission. The original of the letter
addressed to Doctor Barton was delivered when the party reached
America and was read by him on his return from China.

“We are watching events in the Near East with the greatest
interest and, as one of the missionaries has said, ‘with hopes
that scarce know themselves from fear.’

“I have heard that the American Consulate is again functioning
in Smyrna and it is possible that you are there once more. If
so, it will be a comfort and a relief of many persons whose
interests are still largely centered in that city.

“I trust that you and your family have maintained your health
despite the terrible strain upon you and that you will be able
to continue in the splendid cooperation with our missionaries
that has characterized your work in the past.

“Very sincerely yours,

(Signed) “Ernest W. Biggs.”

The letter referred to as “enclosed” was as follows:

“Athens, Greece, October 12, 1922.

“Reverend James L. Barton, D. D., Secretary of the American
Board, 14 Beacon Street, Boston, Mass.

“Dear Doctor Barton:

“At a recent station meeting of the Smyrna missionaries now
refugees in the city of Athens (numbering fourteen adults),
a vote was passed recognizing the exceedingly helpful and
sympathetic services of our Consul-General, Doctor Horton,
during the days of the late Smyrna tragedy. The vote also
expressed the desire that a copy of this letter be sent to the
State Department, Washington, D. C., and one also to Doctor
Horton himself.

“During those days of Turkish fire, pillage and massacre,
which laid the beautiful city of Smyrna in ashes and rendered
homeless her Christian population of not less than 500,000
people, including the refugees from the surrounding towns and
villages, Doctor Horton passed through more trying, exacting
and dangerous experiences than I could imagine any official of
the United States Government, doing service abroad, has ever
been called upon to undergo.

“Under such circumstances, when our American Consulate was
crowded with helpless human beings, all looking to the consul
for help and advice, Consul Horton kept cool but never cold.
His warm sympathetic heart went out to each sufferer, and aid
was extended wherever possible.

“The missionaries are especially grateful for the assistance
rendered by Doctor Horton in helping to rescue teachers and
pupils from the schools, with the result that not one teacher
from the American Girls’ Institute, at Smyrna, is missing; and
most of the girls, who were in the burning building, have been
saved.

“Since the flight to Athens, Doctor Horton has been most
energetic in helping to feed, clothe and house the needy
refugees.

“We wish to put on record our appreciation of Doctor Horton’s
brave and sympathetic efforts for ourselves, as well as the
natives of the city.

“On behalf of the missionaries of Smyrna Station, I remain,

“Very sincerely yours,

(Signed) “Dana K. Getchell.”

The third and following letter was received by me in Washington, August 20, 1923, in the Turkish language. Among the signers are Ilimdar Zade Edhem, President of the Islamic Emigration Committee and Hali Zeki, proprietor of the well-known _Shark Gazette_.

My constant policy during the long time that I was in the Near East, was to befriend, in so far as my official position permitted, all who might be in need of help, irrespective of race or religion.

“30 July, 1339 (Turkish date)

“Since the appointment of His Excellency, George Horton as
Consul-General of the United States in Smyrna, His Excellency
has won the heart of the whole Turkish nation by the sympathy
and good will which His Excellency has always shown every
Turkish man.

“During the Greek occupancy of our country His Excellency, Mr.
George Horton, gave full protection and kindly treatment to
those of the Turks who went to him for protection and the right
of humane existence.

“We therefore beg to express our heartiest thanks to His
Excellency, Mr. George Horton, for all the interest and kindly
services rendered by him for the Turkish nation, which has also
created in our hearts a deep and eternal affection for his
honorable nation.

(Signed)

“Ilimdar Zade Edhem, President of
the Islamic Emigration Committee
Sahlebdji Zade Midhat, Merchant
Hussein Djemal, Chemist
Beshir Zade, Merchant
Ali Rifki
Mehmet Nourri, Carpet Merchant
Hali Zeki, Proprietor of _Shark Gazette_
Hassan Fewzi, Lawyer
Shaih Kadri
Eyyub Sabri, Merchant
Mehmet Emin, Merchant
Mehmet Hamdi, Merchant
Kesreli Hadji Ali, Tobacco Merchant
Berkeli Zade Hadji Bedriddin
Mkr. Ahmet
Kantardji Zade
Mustapha Nouriddin
Mehmet Zeki, Hat Merchant.”

Of these and of many other Turks that I have known personally, I have the most friendly and even affectionate recollections. I wish them well and would gladly welcome an occasion that would allow me to be of service to them again.

It is necessary, however, for the honor of the Turkish race that some of its members should denounce the massacres and publicly declare that they are and have always been opposed to them. If the Koran does not advocate the putting to death of the unbeliever as some of its expounders maintain, then it should seem indispensable to the good name of Mohammedanism in general, that all the other Moslems should denounce the Turkish massacres.

The above testimonial was forwarded to me by Mr. Rufus Lane, formerly American consul at Smyrna, who writes among other things:

“I thought it would be a pleasure to you to have as a souvenir
of your stay here, a few lines from some of your Turkish
friends, attesting their sympathy for you.

“One man declares that you saved the lives of his entire family
in 1916, by providing them with food, a doctor and a nurse when
his mother, his wife and three children were all down with
typhus. I know the man well, as also the circumstances, which
no doubt you have forgotten.”