The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1894-12-31

Bos1oN, Dec. 30-Ihe following state
ment with reference to the condition Of
affairs in those districts in Armenia
where Christian missionaries are sta
toned was to-day issued by the Amer
ican board OF commissioners for foreign
missions.
Official letters sent recently from the
rooms Of the American board OF COM
missioners for foreign missions, con-
tanning accounts relating to the Euro
pean. urkey missions, were opened by
the Turkish officials. Tho letters were
subsequently, delivered, but with the
Turkish word "examine." written on
the envelope. This indicated that the
Turkish government is attempting 10
assume all authority over the mails Of
foreigners.
When the reports OF the massacre Of
Christians IN Sassoun district OF Eastern
Turkey became public, after more than
two months OF suppression on tho part
OF the Turkish officials, the Ottoman
government was alarmed at tho wide
spread publications in the American
and English press. Under pressure
from foreign powers the sultan agreed
to send commissioner to investigate
and report upon the outrages. In view
OF this promise Of the government the
representatives Of the European powers
at Constantinople decided TO wait for
the report before taking any positive
action.
But after this decision by the powers,
and while they were waiting for the de-
parture OF the sultsn's commission,
which had been appointed and which
was to make full and impartial investi-
CATIONS OF all the affairs reported BY the
English consul, as we'll as by many in
dividuals from the Sassoun district, the
Turkish government gave out the fol-
lowing official statement OF the case,
which statement was printed in the
papers Of Constautinople. All papers
printed in Turkey are under close GEN.
sorship aud no paper could refuse to
print the statement under penalty of
immediate suspension. Hence, the
Christian periodicals were compelled
TO print what they knew TO be false.
THE TURKISH STATEMENT
The statement follows:
"some OF the recent European papers
have stated, contrary to the truth, that
lew Armenian villages have been de-
stroved, and in the meantime persons
have been inassacred by the Turkish
soldiers in the district of sassoun.
Others, in order to magnify these re-
ports, have asserted that tho news OF
tho outrage was prevented from leaking
ont by the obstacles the government
nut in the way OF travellers from that
district
"rhe subjects of thoempire OF Sassoun
district are quietly engaged with their
business and the people travel wherever
thev wish in perfect safety
"Some Armeniun bandits, being in
duced bv agitators, began lately in and
about Sassoun to disturb the peace aud
comfort OF the people by numbering,
plundering and blocking the highways.
In order TO put an end to such disas-
tors, the government employed the
necessary means, and consequently or
dered out a sufficient body ot the Fourth
army corps. Thus the extension OF the
revolt being checked the troops were
withdrawn 10 their headquarters.
There was no interference by the
Kourds, but, as stated above, some
Armenian bandits having vcntured TO
disorderly actions, tho Fourth imperial
army corps and also the governor OF
Bitlis. undertook to investigate as to
the facts and subsequently commits.
sion OF inquiry composed Of Abdoolah
Pasha, Eomer Dey, Medjid EGenJi and
Hafez Tevfik Pasha, who will start this
week by steamer to the scene OF the
trouble.
"In general the sublime porte will
never allow such outrages to be perpe.
trated as published in foreign papers
upon his subjects"