Birmingham state herald., 1895-12-20
THE ARMENIAN OUTRAGES A Communication on the Subject
 From MT. 0Iney WAS SENT TO THE SENATE He Bears Testimony to Minister TerrePs En-
 ergy and Promptness. UNITED STATES CITIZENS ARE SAFE Their Property Is Being Destroyed, But the Turkish Government Will Be Held
 Responsible for Immediate
 Satisfaction.
UNITED STATES CITIZENS ARE SAF

w oo4ilh5 loiit 11GC.-lJ-1 IlG pIcSlQGnl lO- day transmitted to congress the eommu- nication from Secretary Olney on the Armenian outrages in response to a reso- lution of the senate. Secretary Olney states that the number of citizens of the United States resident in the Turkish empire is not accurately known, but there are 172 American missionaries and dependents scattered over Asia Minor. There are also a number of American citizens engaged in business in the Turk ish dominions, and others originally Turkish subjects. but now naturalized citizens of the United States. The bulk of this American element is to be found remote from our few consular establish ments. He bears testimony to the energy and promptness displayed by Minister Terrell in taking measures for their pro- tecton, which had received the moral support of the naval vessels of the United States. He adds that while the physical safety of the United States citizens seemed to be assured their property had been destroyed at Harpoot and Marash- in the former case to the extent of $lO0,- 900. The Turkish government had been notified that it would be held responsible for the immediate and full satisfaction of all injuries on that score. The loss of
  been ascertained but like demand for accurate indemnity would be made as soon as the facts were known The cor respondence refers to the killing of Frank Ienz, the American bicyclist, and states that six persons, KooranS and Armehi- ans were put on trial for the murder.
 The case of George Webber, natural ized citizen of the United States born Tn Bavaria, is referred to as deserving at tention. He is an old man of 70, who was Iat Fnfai0 0 g. ported part of the distance on foot and on a rough cart to Broussa, and thrown into prison, where he died during the night, without medical attendance, from the re, suit of his rough treatment. Demand had been made for the removal or the officials guilty of this cruelty, who. it is stated entirely disregarded Wepber s American passport, but, it is added, these just demands have not so far borne fruit"
 lows:
 On the night of August last the prem ises of Dr. Christie, principal of St. Paufs institute at Tarsus, who was spendlng the summer months at the neighporing village of Namroun, were invaded by an armed mob, obviously collected in pur- suance of a preconcerted plan, and an outrageous attack made on defenseless negro servant of Dr. Christie and on some students of the institute who were then at Namroun. The authors of this brutal attack were abundantly identified, ana through the prompt intervention of the United States consul at Beyrout and the consular agent at Mersine, the nearest port. a number of arrests were made: Notwithstanding the peremptory demand of the United States minister for simple justice. the assailants were taken before the local judge of Tarsas ana were re. leased So grave did this miscarriage or Justice appear that an early occasion was taken to send the Marblehead to Mar sine to investigate the incident and lend all proper moral aid to the consular rep resentatives of the United States Tn pressing for due redress. Their efforts to this end were most cordially seconded by the prefect of Mersine and on october s last the accused to the number of eight, were brought to trial at Tarsus and con yicted upon the evidence. subsequently, confessing their guilt The signal re- buke administered in high politics where responsibility really existed and abused, coupled with the aim of the im- portant principle that American donicile in Turkey may not be violated with inn nunity. renders the conclusion of this in cident satisfactory.
 Resides the foregoing case of physical injuries to the persons of American citi- zens the language of the senate resolu- ton may be construed as covering the ca ses of arrest of such citizens ana or proceedings against them in violation or treaty rights. A number of instances Of tbis character have occurred. AS the subject is a development of a long stand ing contention between the United states and Turkey touching the true intent ana construction of the article of the treaty in 1890 in relation to the extra territorial Jurisdiction of the United States over it's citizens committing offenses in Tur- key. it's elaborate discussion in this place in neither practicable nor opportune. It suffices to say that although the treaty Tn terms gives to the ministers and consuls authority and power to punish Amer ican offenders, and absolutely excludes their imprisonment by the Turkish au- thorities the Ottoman government, while admitting to this extent the English rem dering of the treaty, has on frequent oc- casions assumed to imprison citizens of the United States on criminal charges and denied the right of the agents of this government to effect their punishment. | fruitful source of such assertion of authority is found in the case of persons of Armenian origin naturalized in the United States and residing within the territorial jurisdiction of Turkey. under circumstances suggesting their complici- ty in the revolutionary schemes alleged to be rife in Asia Minor. Holding, as it must and should, that no distinction can exist under the statutes of the United States between natives and naturalized citizens, so it is as clearly the right and duty of this government to extend the full measure of its protection to the one as to the other. and finding neither In the treaty nor in our jurisdictionai legislation any distinction a IS to the char acter of the criminal offense charged, but, on the contrary. seeing that both our laws our ministers and consnls have express Jurisdiction over charges of tn-- surrection and rebellion when committed in a foreign country by American citi- zens as we'll as over lesser offenses of a similar cbaf1 1cter-this government Is una ble to forego its right in the premises and cannot relinquish Jurisdiction over