The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1894-12-08
REcoSsIDEREp TT.
Why President Cleveland Decided

to send a Representative.
Washington, Dec. THE announce
ment by the Associated Press in a
cable dispatch from Constantinople,
that President Cleveland had recon
sidered his original intention and de-
cided to send an american delegate
with the Turkish committee to inquire
1nto the Armenian outrageS, was shown
10 Secretary Gresham today. The de-
partment has been much in the dark
officially as to the Armenian troubles,
but at last information was received
that warranted action and this has
been az announced.
The course of the United States has
been marked by great prudence and a
desire to refrain as far as the dictates
of humanity would permit from any
ENHANCEMENT in European politics. AS
the signatory powers of the Berlin
treaty at the close of the Turko-Rus-
sian war had bound themselves to look
after the welfare of Christians in
Turkey, it would have been unwar-
ranted interference by the United States
in the affairs of those countries had we
taken any steps without solicitation
from one or more of these powers be-
yond caring for the interests Of the
United States citizens in Turkey.
So when Turkey requested United
d
Der Of the committee of inquiry, the
request was, for polite reasons, de-
clined. Turkey had naturally turned
first TO the United States, as the only
Christian power whose conclusions
would be likely to carry weight with the
Christian world, upon whose absolute
disintereStedness she could rely. The
Christians of Europe were all under
suspicion of having designs upon Turk
ish integrity, and yet it was necessary,
in order to stem the tide of rising in
dignation, to place a Christian in the
committee of inquiry if its findings were
70 be conclusive upon Europe. The
United States having declined to- join
in the Committee, however, the porte
was obliged to yield to the extent of
permitting the European government
TO name commissioners.
Up TO this point the government had
been in doubt as to the reality of the re-
ported outrages. The Turkish govern
ment had declared positively that the
Armenian affair was nothing but a re-
bellion, and that it had been suppress
ed in a legitimate manner; there had
been a battle, some so or 20 Turkish
soldiers had been killed, and the reb-
els had lost about 500 or 500 men But
at this iuncture came reports from
trusted agents iiserediting official re-
ports of the Turkish government and
affording reason for the belief that the
Armenians had been terribly outraged.
Then Great Britain appealed to the
United States in the interest of justice,
10 insure a report above suspicion and
above contravention by the Turks
themselves, to appoint a member of
the committee of inquiry. This appeal
turned the tide and induced the presi-
dent to reconsider his first decision.
But to avoid any appearance of en-
tanglement with other powers, which
might IN the end result in making the
United States an active party to a
controversy with which it is contended
we have properly nothing to do, it
was decided the Armenian representa-
tive should, while accompanying the
committee, act with absolute indie
pendence, should hear what ne could
in Armenia, and instead Of joining in
the conclusions of the committee.
should make a separate report to the
state department.
Probably because of his nearness to
the scene of trouble and also his an
tecedents, Milo A. Jewett, United States
consul at SiVaS. was selected to act
as the representative of the United
States in making the investigation. Mr..
Jewett was born in Sivas, Turkey, Of
American parents, his father being a
missionary, He came to the United
States in his youth and was educated
in Massachusetts. He became a physl-
clan. and was for about II years at
tached to the Danbury insane asylum.
He was appointed consul to Sivas by
President Harrison in 1892, and is re-
garded as peculiarly fitted for the in
ouiry with which he is charged.