The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-12-08

Why the Administrations Consented to
Send a DeIegate.

WASHINGTON, Dec. THE cablegrsrn
from Constantinople stating that President
Cleveland had reconsi1ered his original In
tention ana decided 20 send an American
delegate with the Turkish commission 20
inquire into the Armenian outrages was
shown Secretary Gresham to-day. In ex-
PLANTATION IL was said that until very re-
Gently the department has been much in
the dark officially as to the Armenian trou-
bles. but at last Information was received
that warranted action. and this has been
taken as announced. The course pursued
by the United States has been marked by
great prudence and a desire to refrain az
far as the dictates OF humanity would per-
nit from any ENHANCEMENT in European
politics. AS the signatory powers Of the
Berlin treaty at the close of the Turco-
Russian war had bound themselveslto look
after the welfare OF Christians IN Turkey
1t would have been an unwarranted inter-
ference by the United States in the affairs
of those countries had We taken any steps
without solicitation from one or more OF
these powers, beyond caring for the inter-
ests of United States citizens in Turkey.
So when Turkey requested United States
Minister Terrell TO name member OF the
commission OF inquiry the request was. for
polftic reasons. declined. Turkey had nat
urally turned first TO the United States
as the only Christian power whose conclu-
sions would be likely TO carry weight with
the Christian world. upon whose absolute
disinterestedness she could rely. The
great Christian nations OF Europe were al
under suspicious of having designs on Turk
ish integrity, yet IL was necessary, An or
der to stem the tide OF rising indinaficu.
TO place a Christian on the commission OF
inquiry, If its findings were 10 be con-
elusive on Europe The United States hav-
ing declined 10 join In the commission,
however the Porte was obliged 10 yield
TO the extent Of permitting the European
governments 10 name commissioners.
Up 10 this point the government had been
in doubt as TO the reality OF the reported
outrages. The Turkish government has de-
clared positively that the Armenian af-
fair was nothing but a rebellion which had
been suppressed in legitimate manner.
There had been a battle, some sixty or
seventy Turkish soldiers had been killed
and the rebels had lost about FIVE hundred
or six hundred men. But at this 5uncture
came reports from trusted agents ciscredit-
ing the official reports Of the Turkish gov
ernmen and affording reason for the belief
that the Armenians had been terribly out
ragged. Then Great Britain appealed TO the
United States I'm the interest OF absolute
justice and TO insure a report above sus-
picion and beyond contravention by the
Turks 70 ,asH rbls seoeo
turned the tide and induced the President
10 reconsider his first decision But to avoid
an appearance of ENHANCEMENT with other
powers which might result in the end IN
making the United States sn active party
to the controversy with which IL Is con-
tended IL had properly nothing TO do. he
decided that the American representative
should, while accompanying the commits
sion act with absolute Independence.
should hear and see what he could In Ar
menia, and instead of joining In the con-
cIusions of the commission. should submit
a special report TO the State Department
Probably because of his nearness TO the
scene of the troubles and also his ante
cedents, Milo A. Jewett. United States con-
sui at Sivas, was selected as the represen-
tative OF the United States In making the
investigation. Mr.. levitt was born In Sivas.
Turkey, OF American parents. his father
being a missionary. He came to the United
States in his youth and was educated In
Massachusetts,. He became physician ana
bury Insane Asylum He was appointed
consul to Sivas by President Harrison in
1892 and is regarded as peculiarly fitted for
the inquiry with which he Is charged.