The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-11-21
THE sULTAN,s ATTITUDE.
A Wonderful Change Since the War
Fleets Began to Assemble.

CONSTANTINOPLE, Nov 20.-As inti-
mated in these dispatches during the last
few days, the attitude OF the Porte or of
the Sultan has undergone a decided change
since the other fleets began to join the
British fleet in the naval demonstration in
Salonica bay. There is no doubt that the
pressure brought to bear on the Sultan
has been strong enough to make him take
personal charge of the work of reform in
Armandax, and it is now hoped that there
will be no further bloodshed, except in the
case of putting down the instructions
which have broken out against Turkish
rule in different parts of Asia Minor. 1t is
hoped, however, that the Armenian clergy
will be able to. induce their co-religionists
to lay down their arms. especially as the
sentiment Of the whole Of Europe is now In
favor Of the Sultan, whose evident desire
TO meet the views OF the powers is
thoroughly appreciated and has undoubt-
the East There is no longer any talk of
the armed intervention of the powers in
the Turkish empire and If any display of
force is necessary on the part OF Europe,
1t might be in the direction of supporting
the authority Of the Sultan, as Great
Britain britain Russia and France are extremely
stored throughout Asia Minor.
a dispatch received here from Tifiis.
nia Rasslan says that the AZ r.
the communication which he recently sent
to the Russian ambassador here, VI. De
of Constantinople are now treasured. They
are threatened with no danger. In the
provinces, however there are regrettabe
conflicts, which, in most cases, were caused
by the Armenians, who were instigated by
their revolutionary committee. The re-
suit is a terrible revenge on the part of the
Turks in the shape of horrible massacres
the scheme for reforms submitted by the
three great powers and preparations are
now proceeding to carry them out. To this
end it is necessary that the leaders of the
people should persuade the latter to desist
from revolutionary attempts, to abandon
the idle hope OF foreign intervention, to put
a stop to all disturbances, and to cooperate
in the re-establishment Of universal peace,
in improving the situation in the introduce
ton of the new order of things"
The six representatives of the powers
held a conference yesterday to discuss cer-
tain supplementary measures which will be
recommended to the Porte for the restora-
ton Of order in Asia Minor. and ii is under
stood that some form of common action for
the protection of foreigners is impending.
According to the Turkish accounts, the
Armenians provoked disturbance at Mars
ovan and 1t is also said that the American
missionaries there were not in any way
Reports received here from the interior
of Asia Minor announce fresh conversions
of Armenian women and children to Islam
ism.
The concentrating of Turkish troops at
Marash for the advance on Zeitoun, which
Is still held by the Armenians in strong
force, continues as actively as possible
under the circumstances. The commanding
general declares that unless the Armenians
Ttoun ard ts Vicinity ass p
to be both protracted and difficult, as heavy
SHOWS and bad roads which are to be ex-
pected soon, will hinder the operations Of
the troops.
Adyices from AIeppo say that all the
American missionaries OF Aintab, Orfah
cf the Turkish authorities of the places
mentioned. The Turks, ii now appears, are
really taking steps to protect life and
Armenian refugees who have arrived here
from the different provinces from which
they fled at the time OF the recent mas
sacre have petitioned the patriarch to as
sist Of those of their coreligfonists who were
unable to get away as famine is threaten
ing their country and that the most ter
the cold weather sets in, thousands of
Armenian families being without shelter
peal to the different G countres mt Of aS Europe % fc
money, food and clothing as IL seems next
to impossible for the Turkish government
to do anything effective in the way Of as
sisting 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
desirous Of calling In person on the Minister
OF the Interior and other government Off
complaints before them. and to tender his
services in the work of relief and reform
But, it appears, the Turkish officials posi-
lively refused to receive him in audience
until he should have published an encycli-
cal condemning the alleged intrigues and
demands Of the Armenans. As II has been
demonstrated that the Turks in the great
majority Of cases were to blame
for the massacres and as the
Sultan has agreed to the powers
scheme of reform for Armenia. the patri-
arch was unable to issue such an en-
cyclical. for it would practically admit
that the demands of the Armehians were
not justified and. 1t 10 believed, have con-
siderably hindered the work OF reform
Consequently, the patriarch made an appeal
the I strongest evidence he could procure
regarding the massacres which have re-
Gently occurred ard begged them to use
their influence to put an end to this con-
dition OF affairs. He was assured that
everything possible under the circumstances
would be and was being done. but the