The herald., 1894-12-08
THE 0UTRAGES ON ARMEN|ANS,
Proposed Investigation of the
MassacreS.
An American Delegate to Assist in
the Work.
The Ports's Anxiety to Have tho United
States R~prsssntsd-F Fresh Re-
ports Of Ousrsges Re-
cefvsd.
Nv the A,.oc,atef, Press.

BY the Associated Press.
CoNsTANTINoPLE, Dec. T. President
| Cleveland has sent cable message hert
saying be has rsconsidered his decision
not to send an American delegate with
the Turkish commission appointed Il
inquire into the Armenian outrsges, aud
will allow the American legation here t
nominate delegate.
The Turkish government is manifest
ing q great desire to show the powers
that the Uaited States was first asked te
send q delegate with the Armenian com
mission, but declined. The earl OF Kim
berly. British secretary for foreign A.
fairs. was also requested to nominate Z
delegate, and Immediately sssented.
WAsuINaroN, Dec. THE announce-
ment by the Associated Press in q csble
dispatch from Constantinople that Pres
ident Cleveland had reconsidersd his
original intention and decided to send
an American delegate with the Turkish
commission to inquire into the Arme-
nian outragss. was shown to Secretary
Gresham today.
"The department officisls have been
much in the dark as to the Armenian
troubles," said he, "but ct last in
formation WAS received that warranted
action, and this has been az announced.
The course of the United States has
been marked by great prudence and
desire to refrain as far as the dictates of
humanity would permit from any en-
tanglemsnt in European politics. As
the signstory powers Of the Berlin treaty
at the close of the Turko- Russian war
had bound themselves to look after the
welfare of Christians in Turkey, it
would have been unwarranted interfers
ence by the United States in the af-
fairs of those countries. had we taken
any steps without solicitation from one
or more al these powers, beyond caring
for the interests OF United States
citizens in Turkey. So when Turkey
requested Minister Terrell to name .
member of Q committee on inquiry, the
request was. for poitio reasons, de-
clined.
Turkey had naturally turned fret to
the United States, as the only Christian
power whose conclusions would be likely
to carry weight with the Chria4sn
world. upon whose absoluts disintsrest-
edness she could rely. The Christians OF
Europe were under suspicion of having
designs upon Turkish integrity, and yet
it was necessary. in order to stem the
tide OF rising indignation, to psAce q
Christian on the committee of inquiry,
If its findings were to be conclusive upon
Europe. The United States having de-
clined to join. the porte was obliged to
yield to the extent of permitting the
Europesn governments to name COM
m'saioners.
up to h'e p int the government had
been in doubs as 10 the reality Of the
reported outrsges. The Turkish governs
msnt had declared positively that the
Armenian affair wss nothing but re-
bellion. and it had boon suppressed in .
legitimate manner. There had been q
battle. some 60 or 70 Turkish soldiers
had been killed and the re bells lost 500
or 600 men. Bu. at this juncture came
reports from trusted agents discrsditing
the official reports OF the Turkish govern
ment, and sffording reason for the belief
that the Armenians had been terribly
outraged. Then Great Britain appealed
to the United States, in the interest OF
justice, and to receive report above
suspicion and above the contravention
OF the Turks themaelvss.- to appoint
member Of the COMMITTEES OF inquiry.
This appeal turned the tide and induced
the president 70 reconsider his first de-
cis;on. But, to avoid any appearance of
entanslement with other powers which
might in the end result in making the
United States an active party to con-
troversy with which it is contended We
have properly nothing to do. 1t was
decided the American representative
should, while accompanying the COM
mittes. act with absolute independence,
should hear what he could in Armenia,
and instead of joining in the conclu.
sions of the committee, should make a
separste report to the state depart.
ment."
Probably because OF his nearnsss to
the scene OF trouble and also his ante
cedents, Milo A. Jewett, United States
consul at Sivas, was selected to act as
the representative of the United States
in making the investigation. Mr.. Jewett
was born in Turkey OF American
parents, his father being a missionary.
lie came to the United States in his
youth and WAS educated in Massachus.
etts. He was appointed consul to Sivas
by President Harrison in 1892.
ATHENS, Dec. IA further story of
eyewitness Of the occurrences. An Ar.
msnian has just arrived in this city
from Hadjin. an Armenian town. from
which place he escaped ehortly after the
outrage was perpetrsted. Hadjn was
town OF 1900 wooden houses, situated
near Msrash. The refugee states that
on the night of October 23d four
Turkish ofiiceru and two gendarmes set
FIRE to the town, using petroleum to
cause the more rapid spread of the
flames. An Armenian named Kedde-
khan Garabsd, with his mother, wit
messed the incendiaries at their work and
cried for help. A Turkish official who
was appealed to to send help to ex.
tinguieh the FIRE, refused to permit as.
sistance. Garabed was seized by order
of the officials and thrown into prison.
Three days laater Garabsd was killed
and his body thrown into the ruins Of
his burned house.