“longing to see you”
Scotland knew of David’s death within a couple of weeks, presumably by telegram. Everyone knew Ebeth was in limbo. What information flowed over the next two years, we don’t know. But we do know about something about 1916, how help was offered, and it was a treat to read some of the bizarrely baroque official consular and diplomatic language involved on the one hand, and the reserved but emotion-packed words in others. Drafts, CC: lists, pencil annotations and typewritten forms survive. Just how did things work back then? During a war! After 100 years here are the few official papers. Like fossils, preserved (unlike most) in the national archives.
First, we know David Newton’s family (his brother?) approached official channels, and contact was made directly with the Foreign Secretary Edward Gray by his Liberal Party colleague Maurice Levy MP (representing Loughborough 1900–1918 and living in Humberstone Hall in Leicester). Levy wrote to Gray on behalf of John Newton on June 15th. This presumably carried some weight (the pencilled note on the letter [Fig 1] notes “ack? [acknowledgment?] — make official”). Levy refers to a letter “sent to me by a friend” in Loughborough, presumably a constituent. Maybe John Newton knew this MP personally, or was a constituent, or maybe the friend in Loughborough was an intermediary.
On the same day the Foreign Office summarised this as (ref 116992, [Fig 2]): “Mr John Newton would be glad of further particulars respecting [the death of Dr Newton at Smyrna], and asks if assistance can be given to the widow.” Ref 116992 also recorded the state of play: “We have no details about the death of Dr Newton”.
It continues with what is presumably a FO decision about what to do next.”With regard to Mrs Newton, we have just asked Mr Page* to enquire whether there is any prospect of Mrs Newton’s repatriation (112921) and, on the application of the Rev. John Trail** (sic, cf. Traill above) we are asking that the US Embassy at Constantinople pay Mr James Murray** the sum equivalent of £100 to be used (inter alia) in connection with Mrs Newton’s repatriation (114692).”
* Walter H. Page was the US Ambassador to the UK from 1913–1918.
** I don’t know who these people are.
An annotation dated 20th June indicates the office should send a letter containing the “substance of above to Sir M. Levy”. Clearly any information coming from Turkey was scant and the lines of communication indirect, but within the UK establishment, this case was to get some attention thanks to party loyalties and perhaps a close relationship between Levy and Gray.
The request for information to Page (i.e. the US Embassy) seems to have been sent the same day (see below), on 20th June, then presumably a telegram (number 314) went from the US Embassy in London on the 21st to the US Embassy in Constantinople, then on to Smyrna. Certainly the reply telegram (8th July) from the US consul general in Smyrna, George Horton,* came via the US Constantinople embassy (10th July) to the US Embassy in London (Fig 3).
*As an aside, Horton was the consul from 1911–1917 (until the USA entered the war) and again from 1919–1922 (until the Great Fire of Smyrna). His influential 1926 book on Smyrna and the fire has important reportage, though is very clear in its, eh, loyalties… it is called The Blight of Asia: An Account of the Systematic Extermination of Christian Populations by Mohammedans and of the Culpability of Certain Great Powers; with the True Story of the Burning of Smyrna. It is possible to read the author’s relatively uplifting Chapter XIII “Smyrna as it was” in isolation: more extensive consumption of the text is recommended, but it is essential to read more widely to provide context, commentary, breadth and balance as part of a critical analysis. (If ever a book were able to provide spicy quotes to quickly satisfy the pre-existing prejudices of readers of a number of opposing perspectives, this is the one.)
Given the lack of any mention about Ebeth’s pregnancy previously, it may well be that Ebeth’s parents only found out that Ebeth was pregnant through this very message (Fig 3), received by the FO on July 22nd and then sent onwards.
“impossible… to travel” … “baby expected August” … “money needed”
The US Embassy in London received this communique, or passed it on, on the 21st July, as indicated in this (revoltingly ornate) covering letter (Fig 4).
On the 18th July, 10 days or so after the US consul in Smyrna sent this news, they enabled another communication from Ebeth herself (“Mrs Elizabeth F Newton”), claiming on David’s life insurance policies (Fig 5a). What wasteful, florid language! Every word saps my spirit. The London dating of December suggests a delay in transmission from Smyrna, or a delay in informing the FO [Fig 5a, 5b]. Who knows if they or others sent other telegrams for her, previously or later.
[Fig 5b] below is the FO record (ref 247294) of the receipt of this communication, and the note (9th) that a letter or copy was forwarded to the assurance society.*
*University Life Assurance Society as an aside was acquired by the world’s oldest mutual insurer, Equitable Life, in 1919, and re-sold on 2007 to the Reliance Mutual Insurance Society, including their archives.
Three days later she also sent word to her father, and Dr Traill [the Rev John Trail in Fig 2], and reference 142900 notes a letter was sent to each of them on the 24th and to Levy on the 26th, perhaps dated 21st, or perhaps enclosing a copy of the original message from Ebeth, now dated 21st.
Her father replied on the 26th July from the family home in the village of Newarthill (Fig 7). “Dear sir, I have your communication 142900/P44/16 of 21st inst re Mrs Newton, my daughter, for which I thank you. I enclose draft on the National Bank of Scotland London for £50 which please forward via the American ambassador to my daughter Mrs Newton at Smyrna. I understand she is at present residing in rooms at the American College at Paradise near to Smyrna. Your obedient servant, James Scobbie.”
A chit (ref 147063, Fig 8) notes receipt, and to “arrange for payment” using “Relief”. It seems to have been actioned, to Constantinople, on the 29th.
There are another few dull bits of book-keeping now. First, the draft of a letter Aug 2nd to the US Ambassador Page (Fig 9a, ref 147063/1244/P) along with (a copy of) the final letter (Fig 9b), and then a draft of the letter of receipt to Scotland (Fig 9c, ref 147063/1244/P), and the same content repeated in the final format (Fig 9d).
To finish off, back to some humanity. James Scobbie had received some communication or other, and in reply wrote to the Foreign Office on December 20th (Fig 10a, ref 258549), enclosing another £50 and the text for a telegram (Fig 10b). It is clear that some news had been reaching the Scobbies, from “Murray”, presumably the James Murray referred to in Fig 2 above.
(By now, Page the US ambassador to the UK had returned to the USA, and coincidentally he died the next day, on the 21st.)
The letter (Fig 10a) reads: “Re (248988/1244/P). I have received the above dated 15th inst from the Prisoners of War Department and in response thereto I enclose a short message for our daughter Mrs Newton of Smyrna, and will be very thankful to have it forwarded. I also enclose a bank draft for £50 which you might please also forward to her. Thanking you for this aiding us under the circumstances.
The telegram text (Fig 10b), in 30 words, is a touching way to end this blog full of official papers.
It reads (with added punctuation) “Dear Ebeth, delighted to know you and baby well. Longing to see you. Family circle well. Occasional news from Murray. Sending you £50 to-day. Best love from mother and father.”
Sources
National Archives
http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C2617477
Reference FO 383/234 Former reference in its original department: Files 99837–121991.
including…
Death of Dr David McKenzie Newton at Smyrna, including:
- Notification to Mr James Scobbie and Doctor John Trail of Dr Newton’s death.
- Provision of funds by the Church of Scotland Jewish Mission Committee and Mr James Scobbie to assist in the repatriation of Mrs Elizabeth F Newton.
- Request by Mr John McKenzie Newton for further information about his brother’s death.
- Enquiry by Mrs Newton about insurance policies held by her husband at the University Life Assurance Society.
Originally published at noisybrain.wordpress.com on October 20, 2017.
