The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-12-12
NATIONS COURSE.
In Regard to the Recent Out
RACES in Turkey.
intervention Decided When England
Seconded turkeys Request.


RACES The secretary's letter Is rs follows:
DEPARTMENT or STATE
WAsHIHoToS Doc. TO- I
To the President: The secretary OF state, TO
whom WIS referred the resolution Of the sen.
nte OF the ID inst, requesting the president,
IF In his Judgment II is not incompatible with
The public interest, To communicate TO the sem
ute any information he may have received in
regard 10 alleged crueltes committed
,pon lrmenians in Turkey, and espec-
billy whether any such cruelties have
been committed upon citizens who
have declared their intention to become
paturalized In this country, or upon persons
because OF their being Christians and, further,
70 inform the senate whether any expostu.
latiors have been addressed by this govern.
ment 10 tho government of Turkey In regard
TO such matter, or any proposals made by or to
this government 70 act In concert with other
Christian powers regarding the same" has the
honor to submit herewith all the correspond.
ence in the department. of state bearing on the
subject Of Tho resolution.
The department. has received no informa-
tion sin regard 10 alleged cruelties committed
upon Armcnians IN Turkey" otter than the
statements that have been made by the Turk
tsh goycrnment, the current reports in the
press and two kilograms from tho legation OF
the United States at Constantin ople.
Concerning Future "Citixens."
Those statements and reports contain moth
tng as 10 any cruelties committed upon per-
sons who described in the resolution
"Citizens who have declared their intention TO
become naturalized." The undersigned is not
aware that there American citizens in
Armenia or elsewhere who are such other
wise than by birth or naturalization.
The department is not informed that Turk
ish subjects who have declared their inten-
tion to become citizens Of the United States,
and have acquired domicle In this country,
have, upon returning to the land of their birth,
peen subjected TO cruolties. In the absence
of authentic Information In regard 10 matters
in question, no Representations" have been ad-
dressed 10 tho government OF Turkey concern.
ing them.
As 10 Proposals made by.or TO this govern
ment 10 act la concert with other Christian
powers, the undersigned has the honor 20 say
that on tho 18Th ultimo the American minister
at CoastantinOple telegraphed the sultan had
expressed a desire that citizen OF the United
States Shon!d accompany "a Turkish commits
SION 10 investigate the alleged cruelties.
A Deciination.
This solicitation, which is doubtless one OF
the proposals" referred 70 in recent public
ruInors, was, though fully appreciated, de-
clined for the following reasons:
The position of the Christian subjects Of
Turkey is guaranteed by certain stipulations
i'm the treaty Of Berlin of 1878, which form part
of what l. known as the European concert
The government Of the United States Is not a
party TO that treaty. BY It's eist article IL is
pro sidcd:
The sublime porte undertakes TO carry ont
wthoot further delay the improvements and
reforms den anded by local requirements in
the provinces inhabited by the Armenians,
and to guarantee their security against the
Circass!ans and Kurds. 1t will periodically
make known the steps taken to this effect to
the powers which will suparintend their APP
plication.
II Is obvious that the Intervention of the
United States, at the solicitations Of Turkey,
tn amatter to which these stipulations relate
would not have been timely and iudicious
either on the score Of propristy or OF expedi-
ency. On the contrary, II might have proved
TO be exceedingly embarrassing to the Eu-
ropean powers, whose duty IL - 10 see that the
guarantees in favor OF the Arnenians are ex.
ecuted.
Subsequently, however, the British govern
ment, one Of the principal siRna,ories OF the
treaty, having taken steps in the matter, ex-
pressed desire that capable aud upright
citizen OF h United States might participate
with the commission in the investigation now
20 be made. With this request, which was
supported by the porte, 10 was decided 20 com.
ply, and Mr. Jcwett consul of the United
States az sivas, was designated for the duty
The undersigned deems IL superhuous TO say
IL is The desire Z the depar mont that com
pete and impartial investigation may be made
OF the matters refer Q / to in the resolution OF
the senate, to the end that the facts may be
fully elected, and the requirements Of Justice
and humanity, az well as OF the treaty stipua
GoDs be duly observed.
Respectfully submitted,
w @ GRESHAM.
Explicit Instructions.
Appended to the letter is the following
cablcgram:
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
WASHINGTON. Dec. 5.
To Terrell, Minister. Constautnople:
Since my telegram OF the 2d inst. declining
participation of this governn. ont in the pro-
posed investigation of reported occurrences at
sausoun, your supplementary telegram Of the
Same date has been received. The Turkish
minister yesterday repeated the sultan's de.
sire that an american ioin the Turkish com.
missoncrs in the Investigate and, moreover,
the British government "a party To- the treaty
Of Berlin tas expressed its desire that a capa.
BILE and upright citizen OF the United states
participate and report his individual conciu-
sions.
The president, therefore, directs that Mr..
Jewett, consul at Sivas, accompany the Turk.
ish commission, not however, rs a member of
IL, 10 the district in which the alleged atroci-
ties were committed, aud, after full and i'm.
partial investigation, report the facts for the
iafoTmatitn N of his government. He will not
Join the Turkish or other commissioners In
any rel OFT You will inform the minister of
foreign affairs, and IL necessary, ask proper
escort for Mr.. Jewett. GHEsHAa
The Presidents Views.
President Cleveland's letter of transmit
tai quotes from the report Of tho United
States minister at Constantinople at first
csscrcditing, but later confirming, reports.
The president also says he has had no
Information of cruelties committed upon
those who have n right TO claim the protec-
tion Of the United States government
Therefore, mo- congratulations" had been
addressed to Turkey.
Concerning any proposals TO act In con-
cert with other Christisn powers, tho
president says: "The first proposal of tho
Kind referred TO was made by the Turkish
government through our minister on Nov.
80, when the sultan then expressed a do.
sire that consul OF the United States be
sent with Turkish commission TO I'm.
vestiga,e the alleged atrocities on Arme.
ninns