The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-12-12

says is was necessary TO suppress insur-
rection and that about fifty Turks were
killed Between coo and 400 Armepian guns
were picked up after the fight and reports
say that about that number Of Armenians
were killed. give credit TO his statement"
The other dispatch referred TO. is dated
Dec. 2. 1894. and Is as follows: "Informa-
ton from the British ambassador indicates
Tar more loss OF lives in Armenia attended
with atrocities than stated in my telegram
OF the 2Sth.'
have received absolutely no informa-
ton concerning any cruelties committed
upon citizens who have declared their in
tention of becoming naturalized in this
country, or upon any persons. who have a
right TO claim or have claimed for any
reason the protection of the United States
government In the absence OF such au-
thentic detailed knowledge on the subject
as would justify our interference no expos
tulations have been addressed by the gov
eminent to the government Of Turkey in
regard TO such matters.
The last inquiry contained in the resolu-
ton of the Senate touching these alleged
cruelties seeks Information concerning
any proposal made by or to this govern
ment 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 S0th day OF November.
when the Sultan then expressed a desire
that a consul of the United States be sent
with a Turkish commission to investigate
the alleged atrocities on Armenians. This
was construed as an Invitation on the part
of the Turkish government to actually
take part with Turkish commission in
an investigation of these affairs and any
report to be made thereon, and the PROPOSE
ton came before our minister's second
dispatch was received, and at a time when
the best information in the possession of
our government was derived from his
first report indicating that the statements
made in the press were sensational and
exaggerated and that the atroci-
ties alleged really did not exist.
This condition very much weakened
any motive for an interference based on
considerations of humanity and permitted
us without embarrassment to pursue
course plainly marked out by other con-
trolling incidents.
BY a treaty entered into at Berlin in the
year 1878 between Turkey and various
other governments. Turkey undertook to
guarantee protection to the Armenians
and agreed that it would periodically
make known the steps taken to this effect
to the powers, who Will superintend their
application"
Our government was not a party to this
treaty. and it is entirely obvious that in
the face of the provisions of such treaty
above recited, our interference in the pro-
posed investigation, especially without in
vitation of any of the powers which had
assumed by treaty obligations to secure
the protection of these Armenians, might
have been exceedingly embarrassing, il
not entirely beyond the limits of justihca-
ton or propriety.
The Turkish invitation to join the inves-
tigation set on foot by that government
was, therefore, on Dec. p, declined. On
the same day, and after this declination
had been sent, our minister at CONSTANT
nople forwarded his second dispatch. tend
ing to modify his former report as TO
the extent and character of the Armenian
slaughter. At the same time the request
of the sultan for our participation in the
investigation was repeated, and Great
Britain, one of the powers which Joined
in the treaty of Berlin, made a like re-
quest
In view Of changed conditions and upon
reconsideration of the subject, 1t was de-
termined to send Mr.. Jewett, our consul at
not for the purpose of joining with any
other government in an investigation and
report, but to the end that he might be
able TO inform this government as to
the exact truth.
Instructions to this effect were sent TO
Mr. Jewett, and it is supposed that he has
already entered upon the duty assigned to
him.
1 submit with this communication copies
of all correspondence and dispatches in
the state department on this subject and
the report to me Of the Secretary of State
thereon. (Signed
Grover Cleveland.
Executive Mansion, Dec. II, 1894.