Omaha daily bee., 1895-04-20
BY THE TREATIES
United states Unable to Cooperate for the
Greater Freedom OF Worship In Turkey.

Greater Freedom OF Worship In Turkey.
WASHINGTON, April 19.-In the foreign
correspondence Of the State department for
the last year 1t appears that Secretary
Gresham in reply to United States Minister
Terrell at Constantinople upon the subject Of
a request OF the British ambassador to secure
the cooperation Of the United States minis
ter to obtain greater freedom of worship for
Protestants in Turkey, refers to the difference
between the treaty Of Berlin wherein Great
Britain has conventional right to intercede
for larger religious tolerance, while the
treaty rights of the United States are limited
to the interests of its own citizens. The sec
retary says: This government, founded
upon the broadest civil and religious liberty
cannot but feel a lively sympathetic interest
in the extension Of the benefcent principles
among mankind; but its right to press its
views in this regard upon other governments
is necessarily limited as well by treaties as
by established rules Of noninterference in the
internal affairs of other nations"
The secretary says that by discreetly ad-
vancng the rights Of natives of the Ottoman
empire, who become interested with American
citizens as teachers and pastors the purpose
which the British ambassador seeks to attain
may be forwarded.
In the published correspondence between
the United States and Turkey there is
great deal about American missionaries in
Turkey, and II appears that nearly all of the
difficulties which have came up have been due
to troubles which have arisen over the acts
Of missionaries objected 10 by the Turkish
government. The correspondence in the Mel
ton case Is quite voluminous, and the COM
plains OF certain missionaries that the Tur-
kish government and officers did not do their
full duty in prosecuting the assaiants of
Miss Melton form an important part Of the
correspondence. Minister Terrell, however
in his last note to the Turkish minister which
rs made part of his report to Secretary
Gresham, says: I'm securing the conviction
Of the wicked men who beat Miss Melton a
defenseless woman, in 1898, in the vlayet of
Mosul, the Ottoman government has shown
an energy and determination to enforce JUS
| tice worthy of the highest praise. The con-
Victon was effected in remote province, and
with many difficulties, which are known to
the minister of the United States Miss Mel
| ton could not even recognize her assaants
but the Turkish authorities have detected them
| in wild district nearly 1000 miles from it's
| capital and have secured their conviction"
Secretary Gresham has shown himself de-
| ctdedly averse to entering upon any privi-
| slonal arrangement with Turkey to regulate
| the status OF naturazed American citizens
who return to that country although he has
| much trouble to extend protection to them.
| The reason for the secretary's disnclnation
is found in his determination to stop at Moth
! ing short Of treaty by which the rights Of this
| class OF our citizens shall be fully guaranteed
| In February last the secretary addressed
| letter to Minister Terrell at Constantinople
| In which he said that while he has ON sew
eral occasions expressed his readiness to con-
! slider any propositions that the Turkish gov
| ernment might submit in the direction of ne
| gotiations for formal naturalization treaty
| he had at no time intimated any disposition
| to enter into any provisional ARRANGEMENT of
| the subject
| The proposed modus vivendi could add no
| sanction to our treaty rights whereby thew
| are guaranteed against Imprisonment by the
Turkish authorities and the position Of our
government has been clearly stated in pre-
ceding correspondence
| Another question raised by the mission
aries was the objection to the order Of the
| Turkish government that property purchased
| by foreigners should not be used for school
| houses and churches; also the restrictions
| upon printed matter. The correspondence
| closed with letter from Minister Terrell to
| Mr.. Jewett, missionary, in which he says
the legation will promptly protest against
the closing of Armenian chapels and schools
| and the question of the validity of the order
prohibiting the sale of land unless it was
| specified II was not to be used for churches
| or schools was still unsettled.
Last December the president sent to con-
| gress what information he had upon the
| subject of alleged cruelties committed upon
| Armenians in Turkey. Since then some
| further correspondence has taken place re-
| idtihb mainly W urgent requests or the
| United States that Consul Jewett he sent to
| investigate the Armenian affair, and the re-
fusal of the Turkish government to permit
| him to go.
| There was a continuation of the corre-
! spondence relative TO the restrictions i'm
| posed on Jews with United States PASSPORTS
| who are not allowed to remain in Jerusalem
| more than ninety days. Said Pasha gave
| to Mr. Terrell the following reasons for the
| restrictions: I'VE believe Jesus Christ was
a great prophet, and if the Jews get control
of Jerusalem they will steal the sepulchre of
| Christ and destroy everything that can re-
mind people of him."
Mr.. Terrell says this feature of the inter
| view was unexpected. He informed the
pasha that he might protest against such
| action in the future. Mr.. Gresham, how
ever, intmates that the United States will
| only interfere to give protection to Ameri-
can Jews where they are subjected to un-
| warranted interference
| The right Of Armenans who have become
| naturazed citizens of the United States to
| return to Turkey caused a lengthy corre-
| spondence. The State department took the
| ground that the United States would protect
such naturalized citizens, but it would not
| undertake to enforce perpetual allegiance
| Where naturaiZed citizen went to his
| native country and resided there with the
intention of remaining the United States
would not assume to protect him as a citizen