The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1895-06-05
PROPOSED ARMENIAN REFORMS
The Sultan's Reply Not satis-
factory 10 the Powers.
The Turkish Government Does Not
Agree to the Control OF the Powers.
The Position SeriOus-Great Britain.
France and Russia VIII Act-The
Measures of Reform which the
Powers Demand.

CoNsTANrINoPLE, juno 4.-The reply
OF the Turkish government to the notes
OF the representatives OF Great
Britain, France and Russia in regard to
the proposed reforms in Armenia, has
been delivered to the ENJOYS. The
answer is not satisfactory. The Turkish
government does not agree to the prin-
ciple of the control Of the proposed re-
forms by the powers. After receiving
the reply the ENJOYS OF three powers
held meeting, at which they decided
to refer the whole matter to their re-
spective governments.
The position is serions, es last week
the British embassy informed the Porte
that Great Britain had resolved not to
accept any notifications Of the propo--
sitions affecting reform In Armenia,
and the representatives OF the other
powers interested have made the same
declaration to the Porte. The reply of
the turkish government causes surprise
and 1t Is thought that such an answer
would not have been given without en-
couragement from some European
power. But the presence OF the British
Mediterranean squadron, consisting OF
~ 'SANSCh obipS, DeEEOuL QOlnL6 70
an agreement between Great Britain,
France and Russia to force Turkey to
comply with the demands of the pow.
ers. consequently interesting news may
sho rtly be flashed from Beyrout, Syria,
where it is believed the British fleet
will be called upon to support the de.
M ands of the three powers.
The measures which Great Britain,
France and Russia insist upon as pre-.
limlnary to reform in Armenia include
appointment OF high commissioner
Tor Armenia, general amnesty for and
release OF all political prisoners, the re.
vision OF certain judgments and the apa
pointment OF commission to sit at
Constantinople charged with the appli-
cation OF the reforms AMI working in
concert with the high commissioner. 1t
Is also demanded that the governors
and heterogeneous of Van, Erzeroum,
SAWS, Bitlis, Khartut and Trebisonde
be Christian or Mussulman according to
the population OF these places. In any
case, either the governor or the vice.
governor OF the places named Is to be
Christian and the appointment OF these
officials is to be approved by the power RS.
taxes are to DO collected by local and
not by State officials and enough is TO
be retained before the money is for
warded to Constantinople to provide for
the cost Of local administration, az,
under the present system, little OF 1t
returns to Armenia. The powers also
propose to compel the Porte to make
radical changes in the judicial system
In order to insure fair trials, the sur
veillance OF prisons and the abolish
ment OF torture, the police to be com
posed of Turks and Christians equally.
Finally the Turkish government is to
be compelled TO strictly enforce the
laws against compulsory conversions to
lslamism. AS already csbled exclu-
sively to The Associated Press, when
the Sultan read the reports of the
powers, outlining the proposed reform.
he was not untavorably impressed He
had several conferences with the for
eign mbsssadors and the Austrian am
bassador urged him to acquiesce in the
demands OF the powers. But it was
added, at the time, the Sulta nappesred
to be counting upon the moral support
OF Emperor William OF Germany, TO
whom he Ia known to have sent an au-
tograph letter on the subject.