The record-union., 1894-12-31
Statement as to the Condition of
Affairs in Eight Districts
ISSUED BY THE AMERICAN BOARD
OF FOREIGN MISSIONS
The Turkish Government Attempting
to Assume all Authority Over the
Mail of Foreiguers-Christia PERI
odicals Compelled to Print What
They Know to be False.
Special to the RECoRD-UN1oS.

PfSNidi W ttlc
WASHINGTON, Dec. 30.-The following
statement with reference to the condition
of affairs in eight districts of Armenia,
i'll which Christian missionaries are sta
toned. was to-day issued by the Ameri-
can Board of Commissioners for Foreign
Missions:
Official letters sent recently from the
rooms of the American Board of Com
missioners for Foreign Missions contain
ing accounts relating to European-Tu
Missions were opened by the Turkish
officials. The letters were subsequently
delivered. but with the Turkish word
Examine written on the envelope.
This indicated that the Turkish Govern
ment is attempting to assume all author
ity 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 Govern
mont was alarmed at the Widespread pub
HcationS in the American and English
press. Under pressure from foreign
powers, the Sultan agreed to send a COM
missioner to investigate and report
upon the outrages. In view of this
promise of the Government, the repre-
sentativeS OF the European powers at
Constantinople decided to wait for the
report before taking any positive action.
But after this decision by the Powers,
and while they were waiting for the de-
parture 1.-THE Sultan's commission, which
had been appointed and which was to
make full and impartial investigation of
all the affairs reported by the English
Consul, as we'll as by many individuals
from the Sassoun district, the Turk ish
Government gave out tho following offi-
cIal statement OF the case, which state
ment was printed in the papers of Con-
stantinople. All papers printed in Tur-
key are under close censorship, and no
paper could refuse TO print the statement,
under penalty of immediate suspension.
Hence the Christian periodicals 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
massacred by the Turkish soldiers
Others, i'll order to magnify these reports,
have asserted that the news of the out
rage 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 Sassoun
district are quietly engaged with their
business and the people travel wherever
they wish III perfect safety. Some Ar
menian bandits, being induced by agi-
tators, began lately in and about Sassoun
TO disturb the peace and comfort of the
people by numbering, pIundering and
blocking the highways. In order TO put
an end to such disasters, the Government
employed the necessary means, and con-
seQuently ordered out sufficient BODY
OF the 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 Ar.
menian bandits having ventured to dis
obey, the Fourth Imperial Army Corps.
and also the Governor of Bitlist under
to2k to investigate as to facts, and conse-
queEuy a Commission of Inquiry was
Eomer Beg, Medjid Effendi and Halez
Teytik Pasna, who will start this week
by steamer to the scene Of the trouble.
In general the Sublime Porte will never
allow such outrages to be perpetrated as
published i'll foreign papers upon her
subjects"
LONDON. Dec. 30.-In a leader this
morning the Times says: Mr.. Gladstone's
retirement from public life is final, but it
would be well for Turkey to reflect in her
own interest that in the Armenian matter
Mr.. Gladstone, with little personal effort
and no personal ambition whatever.
might play the part of blind Old Dan
delo." lie has the British public opinion
behind him, and if the world defed
Europe, his appeal would be capable OF
producing perhaps more than all the eff
feet ne contemplates as merely contin-
gent.