The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-12-31
BEFORE BEING FORWARDED
And News of the Armenian Out
RACES Suppressed.
BULLETIN ISSUED BY THE PORTE.
Ottoman Government Is Angry on
Account of Publications in
Foreign Newspapers.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 30.-The following
statement with reference to the condition
of affairs in eight dis riots of Armenia.
in which Christian missionaries are sta
toned. was tn-day issued by the American
Board of Commissioners for Foreign
Missions:
Oficial letters sent recently from the
rooms of the American Board OF Commits
sioners for Foreign Missions con tanning
accounts relating to the Euro oDean- Turkey
Missions were opened by the Turkish
officials. The letters were subsequently
delivered, but with the Turkish word
"Examine" written on the envelope. This
indicated that the Turkish Government is
attempting 20 assume all authority over
the mail OF foreigners.
When the reports Of the massacre OF
Christians in the SRssoun district of East
ern Turkey became public, after more
than two months of suppression on the
part of the Turkish officials. the Ottoman
Government was alarmed at the wide
spread publications in the American and
English press. Under pressure from
foreign powers the Sultan agreed to send
8 commissioner TO investigate and report
upon the outrages.
Ia view of this promise of the Govern
ment the represen tiyes of the European
powers az 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 departure OF the Sultan's commission.
which had been appoin ted and which was
TO make full and impartial investigations s
of all the affairs reported by the English
consul as well as by many individuals from
the Sassoun district, the Turkish Govern
Ment gave out the following official state
ment of the case, which statement was
printed in the papers of COnstantiD ople.
All pSpsrs printed in Turkey are under
close censorship, and no paper could refuse
TO priat the statement under penalty of
immediate suspension. Hence the Chris
tian periodicals were compelled to print
what they. Knew to be false. The state
11=r1t - as fsllo--=s
''Some Of the European papers have
stated, contrary to the truth, that few
Armenian villages have been destroyed,
and in the meantime persons have been
massacTed by the Turkish soldiers in the
district of SassouD. Others, in order to
magnify these reports, have asserted that
the news of the outrage was prevented
from leaking out by the obstacles the Gov
ernment put in the way of travellers from
that district.
"The subjects of the empire of Sassoun
district are quietly engaged with their
business. and the people travel wherever
they wish in perfect safety.
"Some Armenian bandits, being Induced
by agitaturs. began lately in and about
SasSoun to disturb the peace and comfort
of the people by numbering, plundeTinR
and blocking the highways. In order to
put an end to such disasters the Govern
ment employed the necessary means and
consequently ord red out a sufficient body
Of imperial soldiers of the Fourth Army
Corr S. Thus. the extension of the revolt
being checked, the troops were Withdrawn
TO their headquarters.
There was no interference by the
Kurds. but, as stated above, some Armen-
Ian bandits having veutured to disobey,
the Fourth Imperial Army Corps and also
The Governor of Bitlist undertook to in
vestigate as TO the facts, and subsequently
commission of inquiry, composed of
Abdullah Pasha, Eomer Bey, Medjid Eff
fendi and Hsf~k Tevfik Pa5ha, who will
start this week by steamer to the scene of
the trouble"
IN general the Su blime Porte will never
allow such outrages to be perpetrated as
have been published In foreign papers
upon her subiects