New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-02-11
TURKEY AND THE ARMENIAN.
THE NATrRAG.IzED AMERICANS ARE NOT Sc
DITIOrS.

DITIOUS.
To the Editor Of The Tribune
Sir: As stated in President Clevelands message
to Congress, the Turkish Government has recently
declared its intention to expel ali Armenidhs from
It's dominOns VINO have been naturaiiZed since 1000
in the United States. a hrman has been Issued 10
that effect In this action the Sultan makes pubic
what has long been the real policy of the Porte
and the palace Ring toward Christian SUBJECTS.
'rhos, who have read the papers will remember
many shocking murders and robberies OF Armenian
villages with mpunty such as that or the hurus
under AIoosa Bey. The burning Of the Anatola
missionary college by Turkish mob is of recent
occurrence.
Last year many prominent Armenlans In America
presented a petition to President Harrison asking
him To use his moral influence with the sublime
Porte for the relief Of their countrymen III AT
menia The reply made that in the absence
OF any treaty with the Ottoman Empire. the United
States Government could IN no way interfere with
it's affairs But now at last providentlal oppor-
tunty has come the State Department at WASH
ngton for properly relieving at least such Ar
nenians In Turkey have become American cl'i-
zens Turkey has already begun TO carry out us
policy Of expulsion OF American citizens from It's
domains IL Is very strange that, according 10 MS
message President Cleveland seems inclined, not
indeed to ignore this opportunity but 10 join the
Turkish Government In Gaping the climax OF AT
menian persecution by refusing. when the issue Is
distinctly raised. TO protect certain American citl-
gems in Turkey In order 10 please the sultan ana
the Ottoman bureaucracy. and in direct violation
Of the most explicit principles of international law
OF course We do not assume intentional injustice
done by the President. But We think II Is njus-
iice He gives three reasons why the l nted states
should refuse protect this class OF its ctizens:
Armenian American citizens return to Turkey to
promote seditlon the right 10 exclude aliens Is an
attribute Of sovereignty; there is no naturalization
hot hp
The first OF these statements is wrong in point
Of fact Mr. Cleveland assumes that all Armenian
American citizens. returning 10 Turkey, engage
In sedition. The more exact truth Is that no Ar
me ans return for that purpose. None of the revo-
utorists have happened be Armenian Ameri-
cans Mr. Cleveland asserts that a Journal pub
lshei I'm the United States in the Armenian Ian
guage openly counsels sedton. There is only one
paper in the United States printed in Armenian,
and It's editor states expressly In his issue or De-
cemher IS that he has always advised loyalty 10
the ottoman Government lie Is even blamed by
the Iiuntchlglst or Radical party for his con-
sorvatism. We 10 not accuse Mr.. Cleveland OF a
wilful misrepr, sentaton OF the facts but he GER
talnly does not get an accurate perspective from
the Turkish Porte or the palace Ring" Of perhaps
nfty partsans OF Hamll H.
The truth In the seems TO have been clearly
stated In a recent contribution 70 The Tribune ana
in "fiaik" 0, December -. which We condense thus:
According 10 the absolute monarchy Of the Sultan
Glmtel 10y no constitution It is dsloyal to diner
I'm opinion from the Porte. the Sultan or the bu-
reaucracy, and every Armenian (being Christian
and not 4 Mahometan) is ipso facto assumed TO be
guilty OF sedton until he IS proven innocent-a
branl-new legal maxim. The prejudice Is especially
against the light Of civilization brought by Ar
menlans from the United States
The rlght Of Turkey To exclude any aliens who
may be- found guilty Of sedtion is not denied but
the wholesale and indscrimnate expulsion OF nno-
cent American citizens Is a very Inherent matter
rs - the right OF a sovereign 10 cNpeI divns.
The President. doubtless referring 10 the Geaty
law. says that the United States supreme Court
has sanctioned the exclusion Of aliens from our
borders But the action OF our Government should
not only consist with our Constitution. but also
with international law. for We are dealing with an
intcrnntonal question. This brings TO the third
trcfi,n ~ American citizens in Turkey:
There ~ no naturalization treaty between the
Tinted states ami Turkey to prevent the expulsion
~ American citizens We do not see why. in the
obsrnne Of a treaty MIR cleveland should refuse
to protect citizens simply because lobby OF
Instead of allowing them, through the Sultan and
his Minister. to tell us what 10 10 with our cltMens;
why not 20 according to internati2nat baw ami
Woolscy,s "In,eruatonal Law: mo State in peace
can exclude The properly documented citizens or
away after they have once been admitted. without
definite reasons. which must be submitted 10 the
forelgn Government concerned The protection or
citizens subjects. as being parts or members of
the State. ceases at no time or plaGe In , short;
itself Ia protect a person. cannot abandon its OBJ
iigation on account OF the views of civic obliga-
tions which another nation may entertain .,..
Surely we have interna tional law enough TO JUSTIFY
ms I'm refusing 10 submit 10 this Mahometan policy
of the expulsion Of Christian cltztns Of the lnited
States. II means the exclusion OF naturaiiZed Ar
menian Christian missionaries now resident In
Turkey. and also many who might return to Turkey
General Agent Of the International Law and order
M. Carmel Centre. Conn. Jan. %. 1894