The record-union., 1894-12-08
CLEVELAND CHANGES HIS MIND.
An American Delegate VIII Accom-
pany the Inquiry Committee.

An American Delegate VIII Accom-
pany the Inquiry Committee.
CONsTANTINoPLE. Dec 7.-President
Cleveland has sent cable message here
saying he had reconsidered his decision
not to send an American delegate with
the Turkish committee appointed to in
quire into the Armenian outrages. and
will allow the American Legation here to
nominate delegate. The Turkish Gov
ernment has been manitestng great de-
sire to show the Powers that the United
States was the first asked to send a dele
gate with the Armenian Commission, but
had declined. The Earl of Kim berly,
British Secretary OF State for Foreign At
fairs, was also requested to nominate a
delegate, and Immediately consented.
WHY HE CHANGED HIS MIND.
WASHINGTON, Dec. THE announce
ment by the Associated Press, in a cable
dispatch from COnstantinople, that Presi-
dent Cleveland had reconSidered his
original intention and decided to send
an American delegate to the Turkish
commission to inquire into the Armenian
outrages was shown to Secretary Gres-
ham to-day. He said the department has
been much in the dark, officially. as to
the Armenian troubles, but at last infor-
nation was received that warranted ac-
ton, and this has been announced. The
course of the United States has been
marked with great prudence, and desire
to refrain as far as the dictates ofhumanity
would permit from any ENHANCEMENT in
European politics, AS the signatory
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
an unwarranted interference by the
I Init hf of Fol,
tries had we taken any steps without So
GcitatiOn from one or more of those poW-
ers beyond caring for the interests of
United States citizens in Turkey. So
when Turkey requested Minister Terrell
TO name a member OF the committee to
the inquiry, the request was, for political
reasons, declined.
Turkey had naturally turned first to
the United States as the only Christian
power whose conclusions would be likely
to carry weight with the Christian world,
upon whose absolute disinteresteduess
she could rely. The Christians of Europe
were all under suspicion Of having de-
signs upon Turkish integrity, aud yet it
was necessary, in order to stem the tide
of Indignation. to place q Christian in the
Committee Of Inquiry, If its findings
were to be conclusive upon Europe. The
United States having declined TO be in
the committee, however the Porte was
obliged to yield to the extent of per-
mitting the European Governments to
name Commissioners. Up to this point
the Government had been in doubt as to
the reality of the reported outrages.
The Turkish Government had declared
positively that the Armenian affair was
nothing but rebellion, and that it had
been suppressed in legitimate man
ner, There had been battle, some
sixty or seventy Turkish soldiers had
been killed, and the rebels lost 500 or
600 men. But at this juncture came re-
ports from trusted agents discreditine
official reports of the Turkish Govern
ment, and affording reason for the be-
lief that the Arnenians had been terri
bly, outraged. Then Great Britain ap-
pealed TO the United States, in the inter-
est OF justice and to insure report
above suspicion and above contraven-
ton by the Turks themselves, to APP
point member of the Committee of
inquiry. This appeal turned the tide,
and induced the President to reconsider
his first decision.