Lascelles to Ivan Zancoff, March 28, 1883

Mr. Lascelles to Mr. Zancoff.

Mr. Acting Minister: I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of the note which you addressed me under yesterday’s date, transmitting two summonses emanating from the inferior tribunal of Sistova concerning two American citizens.

These two gentlemen are summoned to appear before the tribunal the 19th–31st of this month, and I may be permitted to remark, Mr. Acting Minister, that it will be quite impossible for these summonses to arrive at their destination before that date. I have therefore the honor to return them to you inclosed, begging you to explain the reasons which have prevented me from acceding to the request which you addressed to me.

Permit me at the same time to inform you that your predecessor, Mr. Stoiloff, gave me the assurance that so long as the question of the right of the American missionaries to open schools at Sistova and at Loftcha was not settled by the Government, no legal proceedings would be taken against them.

I hope that this question, which has so long been under the consideration of the Bulgarian Government, will now reach a definitive solution.

I am, &c.,