Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-12-11
THE ARM ENIANS|
Official Correspondence in Regard
to the Recent Outrages.
4 MESSAGE FROM The PRESIDENT
The Story Told in Secretary
Gresnam's Communication.
INSTRUCTIONS TO Mr.. JEWETT

The President sent a message to Congress
today transmitting the official correspond
ence in regard to the recent outrages in
Armenia. THE story is told in communi-
cation frcm Secretary Gresham to the
President, dated December TO- 1894. the
text Of which is as follows:
Secretary Gresham's Communications.
1.-THE Secretary of State, to whom was
referred the resolution Of the Senate Of the
Sd instant, requesting the President, IL,
in his judgment, it be not incompatible
with the public interest, to communicate to
the Senate any information he may have
received in regard to alleged cruelties COM
mitted upon Armenians in Turkey, and es-
pecially whether any such cruelties have
been committed upon citizens who have
declared their intention to become natural
lied in this country, or upon persons be-
cause of their being Christians, and fur-
ther, to inform the Senate whether any eX-
postulations have been addressed by this
government to the government of Turkey
in regard to such matters, or any pro-
posals made by or to this government to
act in concert with other Christian powers
regarding the same has the honor to sub
nit herewith all the correspondence in the
Department of State bearing on the sub
ject of the resolution.
THE department has received no infor-
nation in regard to alleged cruelties COM
mitted upon Armenians in Turkey, other
than the statements that have been made
by the Turkish government, the current re-
ports in the press, and two Geographic re-
ports from the legation OF the United
States at Constantinople. Those state
ments and reports contain nothing as to
any cruelties committed upon persons who
are described in the resolution as citizens
who have declared their intention to be-
come naturalized.' The undersigned is not
aware that there are American citizens in
Armenia or elsewhere who are such other
wise than by birth or naturalization. The
department is not Informed that Turkish
subjects who have declared their intention
to become citizens of the Unhed States,
and have acquired domicie in this coun-
try. have, upon returning to the land Of
their birth, been subjected to cruelties.
In the absence of authentic information
in regard to the matters in question. no
representations" have been addressed to
the government OF Turkey concerning
them.
AS to proposals made by or to this gov
eminent TO act in concert with other Chris
ton powers" the undersigned has the
honor to say that on the 30th ultimo the
American minister at Constantinople tel
egraphed the sultan had expressed de-
sire that a citizen of the United States
should accompany "a Turkish commission"
to investigate the alleged cruelties. This
solicitation, which is doubtless one of the
proposals referred to in recent public
rumors, was, though fully appreciated, de-
clined for the following reasons:
The position OF the Christian subjects of
Turkey is guaranteed by certain stipula-
tions in the treaty of Berlin of 1878, which
form a part of what is known as the Eu-
ropean concert. The government of the
United States is not a party to that treaty.
BY Its siXty-first article 1t is provided:
THE sublime porte undertakes to carry
out without further delay the improve
ments and reforms demanded by local re-
Quirements in the provinces inhabited by
the Armenians, and to guarantee their
curity against the Circassians and Kurds.
1t will periodically make known the steps
taken to this effect to the powers, which
will superintend their application" Ii is
obvious that the Intervention of the United
States, at the solicitation of Turkey in a
matter to which these stipulations eX-
pressly relate, would not have been timely
and judfcious, either on the score of pro-
priety or of exI ediency. On the contrary,
it might have proved to be exceedingly
embarrassing to the European powers
whose duty 1t is to see that the guarantees
in favor of the Armenians are executed.
Subsequently, however. the British gov
eminent, one Of the principal signatories
of the treaty, having taken steps in the
matter expressed desire that a capable
| and upright citizen Of the United States
might participate with the commission in
| an Investigation now to be made. With
| this request, which was supported by the
porte, 1t was. decided to comply, and Mr..
Jewett. consul of the United States at ST.
| vas, was designated for the duty.
The undersigned deems 1t superfluous to
i
| a complete and impartial investigation may
| be made of the matters referred to in the
resolution of the Senate, to the end that
| the facts may be fully ELECTED, and the
requirements Of justice and humanity, as
| we'll as of the treaty stipulations, duly OBJ
| served.
Instructions to Consul Jewett.
The instructions to Consul Jewett, refer
| red to in the above report are embodied in
| a cable message sent to United States Min
| lister Terrell at Constantinople. dated De-
cember g. 1894, of which the following is
| a copy:
| ."Terrel, Minister. Constantinople
| "Snce my telegram of I'd instant, de-
| clning participation Of this government In
| proposed investigation of reported occur
| rences at Sassoun, your supplementary
| telegram of the same date has been re-
| ceived. The Turkish minister yesterday re-
| peated the sultans desire that an Ameri
can join the Turkish commissioners in the
| government, a party to the treaty OF
| Berlin. has expressed its desire that
| capable and upright citizen of the Unit
| ed States participate and report his
individual conclusions. The President
| therefore directs that Mr.. Jewett consul at
Sivas accompany the Turkish commission,
| rot, however, member of it, to the dis
| trict in which the alleged atrocities were
| committed, and after full and impartial in
| vestigaton report the facts for the infor-
nation of his government. He will not
| join the Turkish or other commissioners III
| any report. You will inform the minister
of foreign affairs, and, IL necessary, ask
GRESHAM"