Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-12-20
Clergymen Ask Secretary Gresham
to Take Action Regarding Them.
CONSUL JEWETf ALREADY INSTRUCTED
Three Hundred Thousand Women
Pray for a MissIonay's Release.
A PETITION TO THE SULTAN

The recent Turkish outrages in Armenia
were the subject of a hearing before Sec
retary Gresham at the State Department
this afternoon. Rev. DIR. Josiah Strong,
general secretary Of the Evangelical ALL
ance for the United States, and other
clergymen, representing the Congregation
al ministers of New York city, made argu-
ments with a view to inducing the United
States government to take action In the
interests of religious liberty in the Ottoman
empire. They submitted numerous docu-
ments setting forth the sentiment of vari-
Gus Christian bodies in this country, in
cluding the resolution adopted by the Con-
gregational Clerical Union of New York
this week and the resolutions previously
adopted by the New York preachers meet
Ing of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
One set of these resolutions deplores the
situation in Armenia and urges the adoption
of such measures of additional consular
representation and more vigorous insist
ence upon liberty of conscience and person
al rights as shall suitably express the alb
horrence everywhere felt toward these In
utterable crUelties and prevent their repe-
tition." Another one of the resolutions
urges upon the national government that
ft exercise its influence upon the siSnatory
powers of Europe to enforce the terms Oh
the Berlin treaty In 1873. in favor of these
Christian Armenians, and also 10 insist Up
on such provisions beirg made as snail
henceforth not only secure these people
from similar outrages, but guarantee 10
them the rights of property and religious
liberty"
Secretary Gresham's Reply.
Secretary Gresham was an attentive ns-
tener to all the speakers, and informed
them briefly of the action already taken
by this government to secure reliable In
formation as to the reported outrages. He
Informed them that MIR. Jewett, the United
States consul at Sivas. had been instructed
to accompany the Turkish investigating
commission to the district in Wnlch the
alleged atrocities were committed for the
purpose OF making full and impartial IN
vestigation for the information OF TINS gov
ernment. He added that Mr.. Jewett would
not be a member of the Turkish commlS-
sion, but would act entirely independent
of that body. The latest information from
COnstantinOple is to the effect that the
Turkish government does not desire to
have Mir. Jewett accompany the commls-
sion under the restrictions imposed by his
instructions. His orders have not been
revoked, however, and he Will be expected
to carry them into execution, unless 1t is
found impracticable to do so, which would
undoubtedly be the case If the Turkish
authorities refuse to furnish him with pro-
tecticn in travelling through dangerous
section OF country.
The Turkish minister at this capital had
conference with Secretary Gresham
earlier in the day, presumably on the same
subject.
Petition to the sultan.
Rev. u. T. Sweeney of Columbus, Ind,
who was consul general to the Ottoman
empire during President Harrison's ad-
ministration, presented a petition repre-
senting 100000 Christian women-the Chris
tian woman's board of misunderstanding
the sultan for the release of Sahag Nah
dissian, an Armenian life exile at Moor
Eouk, in the oasis of Fezzan in the desert
of Sahara, to the Secretary of State yes
terday, asking his friendly offices in for
warding Ii to Minister Terrell at CONSTANT
nople and requesting him to present Ii to
his majesty in behalf of the ladies'. The
story OF Sahag's supposed offense is given
at length.