The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1894-12-31

washington, Dec. s0--The following
Abatement with reference TO the condi'
tion of affairs in eight districts OF
rnrania, in which Christian mission.
aries are stationed, was today issued
by the American board Of commission
ers for foreign missions:
"Onciai letters sent recently from
the rooms OF the American board Of
commissioners Cor foreign missions
containing accounts relating TO ths
i European-T Turkey missions were open
ed BY the Turkish officials. The letters
were subsequently, delivered, but with
the Turkish word examine written or
the envelope This Indicated that the
Turkish government is attempting te
assume all authority over the mail OF
foreigners.
When the reports OF the massacre OF
Christians IN the Sassoun district OF
eastern Turkey became public, after
more than two months of suppression
on The part Of the Turkish officials, the
Ottoman government was alarmed al
the widespread publications in the
American and English press. Under
sultan agreed to send e Commissioners
to investigate end report upon the out
RACES. In view of tpis promise OF the
government the representatives Of the
European powers at Constan.inople de-
cided to wait for the report before TAX
ing any positive action. But after this
decision by the powers, and while they
were waiting for the departure OF the
Sultan's commission. which had been
appointed and which was 80 make full
and impartial investigations OF all the
affairs reported by the English consult
as well as by many individuals from
the Sassoun- district, the Turkish gov
ernment gave out the following Off
cial statement Of The case, which state
ment was printed in the papers OF
Constantinople. All papers printed in
Turkey are under close censorship and
no paper could refuse 70 print the
statement under penalty of immediate
riodicals were compelled to print what
they knew TO be false. The statement
is as follows:
Some of the European papers have
stated, contrary to the truth, that few
Armenian villages have been destroyed,
and in the meantime persons have been
inassacred by the Turkish soldiers In
order to magnify these reports, have
asserted that the news of the outrage
was prevented from leaking out by the
obstacles the government put in the
way OF travellers from that district.
.'The subjects OF the empire of Sas-
SCUM district are quietly engaged with
their business and the people travel
wherever they wish in Perfect safety.
'sSome Armenian bandits, being in
duced by agftators. began lately in and
about Sassoun to disturb the peace and
comfort of the people by Wandering,
plunderiney and blocking the highways.
In order to put an. end to such dis
asters, the government employed the
necessary means and consequently
ordered out sufficient body of imperial
soldiers Of the Fourth army corps. Thus
the extension of the revolt being
checked, the troops were withdrawn to
their headquarters.
There was no interference by the
Kurds, but as stated above, some
Armenian bandits having ventured to
isobey, the Fourth imperial army
orps. and also the governor of Bitlis.
ldertook to investigate as to the facts
md subsequently a commission of in
quiry composed of Abdallah Pasha,
Elmer Bey Medjid Effendi and Hafez
Tevfik Pasha, who will start this week
by steamer to the scene of The trouble.
I'm general, the sublime porte will
never allow such outrages to he perpe-
trated as published in foreign papers,
upon her subjects"