The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-06-05
tie Will Not Agree 10 the De-
mandS of the Powers.
A SUDDEN CHANGE OF FRONT.
Turkeys B0ldneSs Probably Due 10
Promises of terman support.
England, France and Russia Un,Ioubt-
ediy Mean business England Has
seventeen Warsbips at Beyrour,
syria, and France Is Reinforcing
Her Fleet.

tonstantinople. June 4-The reply of ths
turkish government 10 the represent.-
dFes OF Great Britain. France and Rus
sia' regarding the proposed reforms in
Armenia has been delivered 10 the envovs.
me portes answer is not satisfactory
The Turkish government does not agree
10 me principle OF the control OF the prxl-
posed reforms by the powers After re-
ceiFing the reply. the enVoys OF the three
powers held meeting at which they de-
cided 10 refer the whole matter 10 their
respective governments
The situation is serious and last week
The British embassy informed the ports
that Great Britain had decided not 10 ae-
ce9t any notifications OF the proposition
aItecting reforms in Armenia and the rem
feseh'atiNes or other powers have made
the same declaration TO the porte. The
reply Of the Turkish government causes
surprise, and II Is thought such an an
swer would not have been given without
ENCOURAGEMENT from some European
power but the presence OF the British
Mediterranean squGdron. consisting oe
seventeen ships. at Reyrout. points to am
agreement between Great Britain. France
and Russia 10 force Turkey to comply
with the demand OF the powers
Consequently interesting news may
shortly be flashed from Beyrout. syria.
where IL is believed tho British fleet VIII
he called upon 70 support the demands of
the three powers.
The measures which Great Britain.
France and Russia insist upon as prelim-
mary 10 reform include the appointment of
a high commissioner from Armenia. gen.
eral amnesty and release OF all political
prisoners, the revision of certain jldg-
ments, and the appointment of a commis-
sion to sat at constantinople charged with
the application OF the reforms, and work
ing in concert with the high commissioner
80 .Esafssa sfaa.
the governor and vice governors of Van.
Ezeroum. SiVas. Btlis. khartoum and
Treblzonde be Christian or Mussulman,
according TO how the population of tho
places is inclined. In any case. however.
either the governor or vice governor of tho
places named is 10 he Christian. and the
appointment OF those officials is 20. be APP
proved by the powers. Taxes are To be
collected by local and not by state officials.
and enough is to he retained before the
money is forwarded TO Constantinople to
provide for the cost of local government.
as under the present system all tax money
is FIRST sent TO Conetantinople and but lit
tie OF il returns To Armenia. The powers
also propose 20 compel the porte 10 make
radical changes in the judicial system in
order TO insure fair trials. the surveillancs
OF prisons and the abolition of torture.
and the police il 10 be compelled TO strict
" enforce the laws against compulsory
AS already cabled by the Associated
Press, when the sultan read the note OF
the representative powers outlining the
proposed reform he was not faTorabiy inn
pressed He had several conferences with
the foreign ambassadors. and the Austrian
ambassador urged him TO acquiesce ia the
demands of the powers. Rut IL was added
at the time that the sultan appeared to
be counting the moral support OF Emperor
William OF Germany, 20 whom ne rs known
to have sent an autograph letter on the
subject.
TouIon. June s-Two French cruisers
have heon dispatched to Jeddah TO support
the three British cruisers there TO enforce
rrornnt punishment Of those engaged in
The murtierous assault upon the foreign
consular officials.
London. June THE Standard corfe-
sconient AZ Constantinople telegraphs as
follows: I learn from "A trustworthy
source that the reply of the porte 10 mo
r,ritfsh. French and Russian no.es IN ref-
crence to reforms IN Armenia fe@ects
the nroposaI 70 appoint a high commits
sioner In Armenia and mixed comnis-
sion and proposes merely 10 apply the re-
forms provided FOR in the old ATts'arehi
code which has been nominally i'm forre
dyrine- the last half century. The reply
also grants amnesty 10 all Armente1s
vrho have been implicated In recent
events In Armenia. II is believed the
movers viii novy FIX a date for the sre-
rfal acceptance Of their schep-e. falling IN
which they viii proceed TO enforce IT, In
an editorial comment from che foregoing
tfl~natch the STANDARD suggests that the
scheme proposed by the porte Is a device
to gain time The sultan. Il says, must
make his choice He must accept the re-
forms PROPOSED or see Armenia severed
from his empire.