The American missionaries to Charles Hale, June 4, 1867

The American missionaries to Mr. Hale

Hon. Charles Hale, United States Consul General for Egypt :

We send you the enclosed documents in duplicate English and Arabic, according to your request, for your convenience in referring it to the Foreign Office.

As we hear the Viceroy is to leave the country in a few days, and it is very desirable that his decision should be obtained in this case, and as the documents upon which the case are built are so voluminous that you will hardly have time fully to digest them before the Viceroy leaves, permit us respectfully to suggest that the following are what we think the facts of the case demand :

1st That the government here immediately send to the Mudir of Ekmim an order permitting Besh-et-ly to return to his place of residence until such time as he shall be convicted of crimes justifying his banishment therefrom.

2d. That the 89 persons who signed the enclosed petition, and the two Sheikhs of Ekmim, who are guilty, on their own showing, of disorderly and seditious proceedings, be immediately sentenced to punishments suitable to their crimes.

3d. That a joint commission be appointed, consisting of an equal number of members appointed by the government and the consulate, with full authority to examine witnesses wherever found, and issue judgment according to the merits of the case, and that this commission have the use of a government steamer in order to visit Upper Egypt for this purpose.

4th. That as oar schools in Upper Egypt have been stopped, and our work generally interfered with, the expenses of the Upper Egypt mission, amounting to £300 sterling per month, be paid us, this payment to begin with the date of our last communication, May 4, when the government by a telegram might at once have put a stop to the wrongs complained of, and to continue until such time as these interferences shall be removed—these damages to be collected from those parties who shall be found guilty by the commission of the interference complained of.

5th. That if it be the law of the land that an American citizen appearing before a native court with a complaint, and only asking that his case be judged according to the laws of the land, cannot be heard, the consulate receive authority to appoint consular agents in every town in Egypt likely to be visited by American citizens, or in which there are American interests to be looked after.

Hoping that these suggestions may meet with your approval, as they are founded upon right, we have the honor to remain, yours, &c.,

In the name of the Egyptian mission :

G. LANSING.

B. F. PINKERTON.

Note.—It will be understood that this communication from the missionaries was carefully considered, but it was not deemed advisable at the time to make of the Egyptian government the five demands therein proposed, although the subject was pressed on the government as one requiring attention.

The papers covered by the communication, being voluminous, are not forwarded with this copy.