The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-11-21
Powers Bound to Protect Foreigners
In Asia Minor,
AMERICA IS DEEPLY INTERESTED.
Thousands Of Armenians In
Danger Of Perishing,

the porte for the restoration Of order in
Asia Minor, and IL Is understood that
some form OF common action for the pro-
lection OF foreigners Is impending.
The Daily News this morning
that Sir Philip Currie, the British minis
ter to Turkey, now en- route for his post
at Constantinople, via Paris, carries with
him an autograph letter from the queen to
the sultan. In this letter tho queen says
that she had been deeply distressed by
reason OF the reports Of the Armenian
massacres in the Turkish empire.
A dispatch to The Times from Constan-
tinoplo says that the Austrian, Italian,
Russian and British representatives have
applied To the sultan for firmans, giving
them safe conduct for the inward passage.
A second dispatch boat will be attached
TO the boats Of each Of the respective en-
bassics.
Decisive Moves.
The Chronicle this morning expresses
the opinion that the presence OF United
States Ambassador Bayard at the foreign
Office yesterday indicates a desire on the
part ~ the United States government to
Join in the European concert for the pur-
pose OF aiding in the suppression OF the
present Armenian difficulty and assisting
In the restoration Of peace In the Turkish
empire.
A dispatch from Washington states that
the u. ). warship Minneapolis has been
ordered TO join the European squadron
Immediately, doubtless Oh account OF the
Turkish situation. She is now In Ameri-
can waters.
The orders to Captain Wadlcigh OF the
Minneapolis are 20 report 90 Admiral Sell
fridge upon reaching Gibraltar, but unless
the admiral issues other orders by that
time the ship will make Smyrna her des-
tination. This point Is believed TO be as
near as a warship car get To the American
mission stations believed by the mission
AIRY boards In this country TO be endan-
gered by the general uprising OF the
Mussulmans In Asia Minor.
While the state department authorities
felt that due precautions had been taken
In the ordering Of two vcssels-the San
francisco md the Marblchead-to this
coast, still n point was yielded to make
the safety of the missionaries additionally
secure. and after advising with Minister
Terrell. the orders to the Minneapolis
were forwarded. She Is now at Norfolk
in perfect condition, but needs to take on
additional stores and coal to begin her
6o0o-mile voyage from Norfolk to Smyrna
Americans Not Molestod.
According to Turkish ~coun the Ar
menians provoked the disturbances at
Marsovan, and IL Is also said that the
American missionaries there were not in
any way molcsted.
Reports received here from the interior
Of Asia Minor announce fresh conversions
Of Armenian women and children TO Is
lamism.
The concentrating Of Turkish troops at
Marash for the advance upon Zeitoun,
which is still held by the Armenians in
strong force, continues as actively as pos
siblo under the circumstances. The COM
manding general declares that unless the
Armenians Of Zeitoun and its vicinity are
subjugated within a fortnight, the cam
paign Is likely to be both protracted nnd
difficult, rs heavy SHOWS and bad roads
may shortly be expected to hinder the
operations OF the troops.
Adviccs from Alcppo say that all the
American citizens at Aintab, Orfah and
Mardin are safe under the protection of
the Turkish authorities Of the places men,
toned. The Turks, IL now appears, are
really taking steps to protect life and pro-
perry.
Pleading For Aid.
Armenian refugees who have arrived
here from the different provinces from
which they fed at the time OF the
recent massacre have petitioned the
patriarch 10 assist their co-religionists
who were unable TO get away, saying that
famine Is threatening their country, and
that the most terrible sufferlnas may be
anticipated when the cold weather scts in,
rs thousands OF Armenian families are
without shelter, the result OF the destruc-
ton of their homes by the Turks. The
Armenians ask the patriarch to appeal
TO the different countries OF Europe for
money, food and clothing, rs it seems
next to impossible for the Turkish govern
-ment to do anything in the way of assist
ing the distressed people.
There has been some sharp exchange Of
messages recently between the Armenian
patriarch, the Turkish ministers and the
foreign ambassadors. The patriarch was
DESTROYS OF calling In person upon the
minister Of the interior or other govern
ment officials for the purpose of placing
certain complaints before thcm and in or
der to tender his services in the work Of
relief and reform. But, IL appears, the
Turkish officials positively refused TO re-
ceive him In audience until he published
an encycl!cal condcmning the alleged in
trigues and demands OF the Armcnians.
AS IL has been demonstrated that the
Turks I'm the great majority OF eases were
Co blame for the massacrcs, and as the
sultan has agreed TO the scheme OF re-
forms for Armenia insisted upon by the
powers as the result OF an investigation
upon the part OF their representatives into
the actual condition Of Armenia, the pa
triarch was unable to issue such an en-
c%yclical, for 1t would practically nave ad-
mitted that the demands OF the Arme-
mans were rot justified, and would, it
Is believed, have considerably hindercd
the work Of reform.
Consequently the patriarch made an ap-
peal 60 the ambassadors, and placed before
them the strongest evidence he could pro-
cure regarding the massacrcs which have
recently occurred. and begged them 10 uso
their influence In order TO put an end to
this situation Of affairs.
He was assured that everything possible
under tho circumstances would be and
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