The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-12-20
TURKEYS REIGN OF TERROR.
a REPORT FROM SECRETARY OIL
NEY SENT TO THE SENATE.


capped Massacre, Bad Their Prop
erty DestrOyed-Reparati by
Turkey Demanded by Secretary
OIney.
Washington, Dec. 19.-The President to-
day transmitted to congress a communica-
tion from Secretary Olney on the Arme-
nian outrages, in response to the resolu-
tion of the Senate. Secretary Olney states
that the number Of citizens of the United
States resident in the Turkish empire is
not exactly known, but there are 172 Amer
lean missionaries and dependents scat
tered over Asia Minor There are also a
number of American citizens engaged in
business in the Turkish dominions and
others, originally Turkish subjects, but
now naturalized citizens of the United
States. The bulk of this American ele-
| ment is to be found remote from our few
| consular establishments He bears testi-
mony 10 the energy and promptness dis
played Dy our minister, Mr.. Terrell, IN
taking. measures for their protection,
Whlch had received the moral support OF
the naval vessels Of the United States.
he ADDS that while the physical safety
or the United States citizens seemed 10
De assured, their properly has been de-
stroyed at Harpoot ana Marash, in the
former case 10 the extent of 100000. The
turkish government had been notified
that it would be ''helG responsible for i'm
mediate and full satisfaction Of all in
Jurles on mat score" The loss of Ameri-
can property at Marash has not been as
certalned, but like demand for indem-
nifty would be made as soon as the facts
were known. The correspondence refers
TO the killing of Frank Lenz an Amerl-
can blcyclist, and states that six per-
sons, hurds and Armenians, were to
be put on trial for the murder.
The case of George Weber a natu-
Tallzed cltlzen OF the United States, born
in Bavaria Is referred to as deserving
attention. He, an old man of 20 was ca
priciously arrested at Konia ana trans
ported part of the distance on foot ana
on q rough cart to Broussa and thrown
IN prison, where he dief during the night
without medical attendance, from the re-
suit of his rough treatment. Demand had
been made for the. removal Of the offi-
clals guilty of this cruelty, who, IL Is
stated, entirely disregarded Webber's
American passport, but ii is added These
Just demands have not so far borne
A third incident is mentioned as fol-
lows On the night of Aug. 4 last the
premises OF DR.. Christie, principal of ST.
PauFs institute at Tarsus, who was
spending the summer months at the neigh
boring village Of Namroun, were invad-
ed by an armed mob, obviously collected
in pursuance of a preconcerted plan, and
an outrageous attack made on defense
less native servant off DR.. Christie, ana
on some students Of the institute, who
We're then at Namroun. The authors or
this brutal attack were abundantly iden-
titled and through the prompt interven-
ton of the United States consul at Beirut,
and the consular agent at. Aersined-the
nearest port-a number of arrests were
made. Notwithstanding the peremptory
demand of the United States minister
for simple justice, the assailants, when
taken before the local judge of Tarsus
were released. So grave did this miscar-
rage OF Justice appear that an early oc-
casion was taken to send the Marble
head TO Marsine to investigate the Incl
dent, ana lend all proper moral support
70 the consular representatives of the
nhlteu states In pressing for due redress
Their efforts TO this end were most cor
daily seconded by the prefect Of Marsine
and on Oct. rs last, the accused, to the
NUMBER OF eight, were brought to trial
at Tarsus and convicted upon the evil
dence, subsequently confessing their guilt
Ihe signal rebuke administered in high
places where responsibility really existed
and was abused, coupled with the estab-
lishment of the important principle that
American domicile in Turkey may not be
violated with impunity, renders the con-
clusion of this incident satisfactory"
Secretary Olney continues as follows:
BESIDES the foregoing cases Of physical
injury to the persons of American citi-
zens, or invasion of domicialiry rights
the language of the Senate resolution may
be construed as covering the cases of ar
rest OF such citizens. and of proceedings
against them in violation of treaty rights
A number OF instances of this character
have occurred.
LAS the subject is a DEVELOPMENT of the
United States and Turkey, touching the
true intent and construction of the
fourth article OF the treaty of 1890 in re-
latlon TO the extreme territorial jurisdic-
ttOn of the United States over its citizens
committing offenses in Turkey, its elabo-
rate discussion in this place Is neither
practicable nor opportune. 1t suffices to
say that, although the treaty in terms
gives 10 the ministers and cOnsuls au-
thor1ty and power to punish American Of
lenders and absolutely excludes their i'm
prsonment by the Turkish authorities
The Ottoman government, while admit
ting to this extent the English rendering
of the treaty, has on frequent occasions
assumed to imprison citizens of the Uni
ted States on criminal charges and de-
nied the right of the agents of this gov
ernment to effect their punishment. A
fruitful source of such assertion of au-
thority is found in the case of persons
of Armenian origin, naturalzed in the
United States and remaining within the
territorial jurisdiction of Turkey. under
circumstances suggesting their completely
in the revolutionary schemes alleged to
be rife in Asia Minor Holding, as II
must, and showed that no distinction can
exist under the statutes of the United
States between native and naturalized
citizens, so that 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 jurisdictonal
legislation any distinction as to the char
acter Of the criminal otfense charged
but, on the contrary, seeing that by our
laws our ministers and consuls have eX-
press jurisdiction over charges of insur-
rection and rebellion when committed in
the foreign country by an American citi-
zen as wen as over lesser offenses of a
similar character-this government is un-
able to forego its rights in the premises
and cannot relinquish jurisdiction over
any citizens even though after
naturalization he returns to his
native land and identify himself with its
political conspiracies. The right to try and
punish our citizens committing o4enses
in Turkey has been so uniformly and
ably upheld by the successive Secretaries
Of state since the contention on the sub
iect was first broached in 1892, that no
diminution of our claim can be consfd-
cred at this important juncture. Conse-
quently, the United States minister al
Cons tantinople has been instructed TO
claim all rights under the fourth article
OF the treaty OF $780, and TO offer TO try
any American citizen charged with in
surrectiOn. rebellion, sediti0n or like Of
Tense or, in the event Of such offer being
refused, 10 demand the release Of the ac-
cused. fnasmuch, however as this govern
ment does not contest the paramount
right of a sovereign state 70 exclude or
depOrt for adequate cause, and IN a proper
manner. aliens whose resort % lts terri
tories may be pernicious 10 the safety Of
the state, the release of such persons on
len. IA their iTnrfIr a.