Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1894-12-13
PRESIDENT REVIEWS ARMENIAN
CORRESPONDENCE.
IN \ LETTER Addressed TO
THE SENATE.
According to the FirSt Dispatches
From the United states Minister
the outrageS Were not ~ Rad as
Reported Later AdviroS Changed
Uncle Sans Attitude.

Washington, Dec. L. In the letter
transmitting the Armenian correspond
rncc to the Sruatr, President cleveland
says: Il beg leave to inform the sen
ate that have uo information con-
corning CrueltirS committed upon the
ArmentanS in Turkey, or upon persons
because Of their being Christians. cN
Crpt such Information rs is derived
from the newspaper reports, aud state
mrutS cmauatiug from the Turkish
governments denying such crucltirS,
and two Geographic reports from our
minister ut CouStantinople one OF
these, dated November IS 1884, in
answer to an inquiry is rs follows.
The reports in American papers of
Turkish atrocities at SaSSoun are SEN
Sational and exaggerated. The killing
WAS in Il conflict between armed Ar
mruianS and the Turkish soldiers.
The grand vizirr says about fifty
Turks We're killed. Between three and
four hundred Armenian guns were
picked up after the fight and there are
reports of about that number of Armr-
MANS killed. give credit to his state
mrnt
The other letter is dated December
=, 1854, and is rs follows: III, intor-
nation from the British ambassador
Indicates far more loss of life in Ar
mrnia. attended with atrocities than
stated III my telegram Of the twenty
eighth
Il have received absolutely no in
formation concerning amy cructirS
committed upon citizens who had de-
rlarrd their intention To become nat,
uraliZed in this country or upon any
persons who have the right to claim
or have claimed for any reason pro-
lection from the United States govern
mrnt. In the absence of such anthem
tic details or such knowledge on the
subject as would Justify out intrrfcr-
rnce, no cNpoStula atoms have been adj
dressed by this government to the gov
rrnmcnt of Turkey in regard to- such
matters.
~ i''' inquiry 'Vlll'lIIlNNl III 'lt
resolution of the senate touching these
alleged cruHltirS seeks information
concerning amy proposal made by or
To this government To act In concert
with other Christian power regarding
the same The first proposal Of the
kind received was made by the Turk
iSh government through our minister
on November Goth, when the sultan
expressed Il desire that n consul of
the United States be sent with the
Turkish commission To investigate the
alleged atrocities. This was construed
as an invitation on the part of the
Turkish government To actually take
part with the Turkish commission in
the investigation of those affairs and
the report to be made thereon ard the
proposition came before our minister's
second dispatch was received, and ut
the time when the best Information In
the possession of our government was
derived from his first report iudicat-
ing that the statements made in the
press We're sensational and cNagger-
atcd and that the atrocities alleged
really did NOT EXIST This condition
very much weakened any motive for
interference based on considerations
Of humanity and permitted us with
ont embarrassment To pursue the
COurs" plainly marked out by the other
controlling incidents. by a treaty en-
tered into at Berlin in the year 1878
between Turkey and various other
governments, Turkey undertook TO
guarantee protection to Armcnians
and agreed it would periodically make
known the steps taken to this effect
to the powers, who will SnpCrintend
their applications. our government
was not party to the treaty. and II
is entirely obvious in the face Of the
provisions Of such treaty, above re-
cited. that our interference in the pro
posed investigation, especially with
ort invitation from any powers which
assumed, by treaty obligations to Sc
cure the protection OF these Aremnians
might have been exceedingly cmbar-
aSSing. If not entirely beyond the
limits of Justification or proprfcty.
"The Turkish invitation to Join the
investigation set on foot by that gov
eminent. therefore, on the second OF
December, was declined ON the
same day ana after this declination
was sent. our minister at CONSTANT
nople forwarded the second dispatch.
tending to modify his former report
as to the extent and character Of the
Armenian slaughter. ~ the same
time til request Of the sultan for our
participation in the Investigation was
reported and then Great Britain. one
Of the powers which joined In tn
treaty % Berlin, made a ike request.
In view Of the changed conditions and
upon reconsideration Of the sub
iact II was determined to send Mr.
Tewett our consul al Siyas, 10 the
scene II The alleged outrages, not for
the purpose Of Joining with any 9TH
or government In the Investigation as
reported. but to the end that he might
be able 10 inform the government Of
the exact truth Instructions to this
cfra9+ trnpa cant ~ Iarp0tf mud II f2