The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-12-12
Great Br ia n Demands Freeilom.
the ARHENIAN COHREsPONDEhCE
Newspaper Report of tho Massacre be.
Iieyed to Have Been Exaggerated.

WASHINGTON, d. c., Dec. li.-Ihe
President to-day sent % the Senate,
in response to the Hoar resolution, the
Armenian correspondence, consisting OF
a letter from the Secretary OF StaSe
and a copy of telegram TO Minister
The Presidents letter of transmittal
embodies the substance or the cores
po1Cence. II says
In response to the said resolution, !
beg to inform the Senste that l have
no Information concerning cruelties COM
mitted upon Armenians IN Turkey, OF
upon persons because OF their DelS
Christians except such information as
has been derived from newspaper reports
and statements emanatnB from the
Turkish Government denying such cruel
ties, and two telegraphic reports from
our Minister at Constantinople. one
OF these reports. dated November 2s
1884, is in answer to an inquiry by the
State Department touching reports IN
the press, alleging the killing OF Arme-
mans, and il is as follows:
Reports i'm American papers or TURK
ish atrocities at SaSsOun are sensational
and exaggerated. The killing was IN d
conflict between Armenians and Turkish
soldiers. The Grand ViZier says It was
necessary TO suppress insurrection, ana
that about nifty Turks were killed Be
tween three and four hundred Armenian
guns were picked up after the hght
and reports show that about that number
TO this statement"
The other dispatches referred to is
dated December .. 1884, and is as follows;
Information from British Ambassador
indicates far more loss of lives in Ar
menia, attended with atrocities, than
stated in my telegram OF 18th"
have received absolutely no lnfornla-
tion concerning any cruelties committed
upon citizens who have declared their
intention OF becoming naturaliZed in this
country" or upon any persons who have
a right tc claim or have claimed for any
reason the protection Of the United
States Government.
In the absence OF such authentic de-
tailed knowledge on the subject as would
justify our Interference mo expostula
ticns have been addressed by this Govern
ment to the Government OF Turkey In
regard TO such matters"
The last inquiry contained In the reso-
luton OF the Senate touching these al
legged cTuelties seeks informl.lOn con-
cerning amy proposal made by or 70
this Government TO act in concert with
&other Christian powers regarding the
same"
The first proposal Of the kind referred
TO was made by the Turkish Government
through our Minister on the 30th day of
November when the Sultan then express
ed a desire that a consul OF the United
Staten be sent with a Turkish commits
sion TO investigate the alleged atrocities
on Armenians. This was construed as an
invitation on the part OF the IuTklS0
Government TO actually take part with a
Turkish commission in an investigation
OF these affairs and any report 10 be
made thereon, and the proposition came
before our Minister'S second dispatch was
received and az a time when the best
information in the possession OF our Gov
ernment was derived from his first report
indicating that the statements made in
the press were sensational and exag-
gerated. and that the atrocities alleged
really did not exist This condition very
much weakened any motive for an inter
ference based on considerations or hu-
manity. and permitted US without EN-
barrassment TO pursue course PLAINLY
marked out by other controlling incidents
BY treaty entered into at Berlin IN
the wear 1878, between Turkey ana vari-
ons other governments. Turkey under
took 10 guarantee protection 10 the Ar
menians. and agreed that II would Pc
riodicaly make known the steps taken
to This effect to the powers, VINO VIII
supsrintend their Application.
Our Government was not party TO
thjs treaty. and IL Is entirely obvious that
in the face of the provisions OF such
treaty above recited, our interference M
the proposed investigation espeelaiiy
without Invitation OF any OF me poWers
which had assumed by treaty opiigations
to secure the protection OF these At
menians, might have been exceedingly
EMBARRASSING. IL not entirely beyond the
limits OF Justification or propriety, The
Turkish invitation TO join the investisa-
ton set on foot by that Government was.
therefore, on the second day OF Decem-
y Der. declined. On the same day ana AZ