Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-12-04

the most favorable treatHeus Pci hllecd
nv our laws as regards the producsloh OF
Spanish territories. A commerelal arrange
| ment was concluded IN January Iast
securing the treatment 50 claimed Nig-
orors protests against excessive hhes I'M
posed ON our ships and merchauoise ny
tho custnms officers OF these islahus' Ior
trivial errors have resulted III the rehls-
sion of such fines in instances where TIC
eouitv OF the complaint was apparent,
though the ye1atious practlce mas hot
been wholly Discontinued.
occurrences in Turkey.
Occurrences in Turkey have continued TO
oxci,a concern. The reported massacrcs
~ Christians in Armenia and the develop
,,,en, ther. and in other districts Of
snirit of fanatic hostility to Christian in
themes naturally excited apprehension
for the s,fety Of the devoted men and
woman who are dependents of the foreign
missionary societies in the United States,
reside in Turkey under the guarantee
of law and usage and in the legitimate
ns rfornapce of their education and re
| I;gieus mission. No efforts have been
shared in their behalf. and their protection
in person and property has been earnestly
and vigorously enforced by those
means in power. | regret, however,
| that an attempt on our part TO obtain
better Information concerning the true
condition of affairs in the disturbed
quarter of the Ottoman Empire, by send
| ing thither the United States consul at
| Sivas to make investigation and report
was thwarted by the objections Of the
| Turkish government. This movement on
our part WAS in no sense meant us a
! grHuitnus CntanglemenU of the United
| States in the su-called eastern question:
nor has any ollcious Interference with the
right and duty which belong by treaty to
certain great European powers, calling
| for their Intervention in political matters
affecting the good government and re
| ligious freedom OF the non Mussulman
| subj, cts of the Sultan, but it arose solely
| from our desire to have an accurate
| knowledge of the conditions in our et-
| forts to care for these entitled to our pro
| lection.
| The prFserce of our naval vessels which
are now in the vicinity Of the disturbed
| localities affords opportunities to acquire
a measure of familiarity with the condi
ion of affairs aud will enable us to take
suitable steps for the protection Of any IN
| tercsts OF our countrymcu within reach OF
our hips that might be found imptrilled
The Ottoman government has lately is
sued an imperial Trade cxempttng for
ever from taxation. an American college
for girls at Soutari. Repeated assurances
have also been obtained by our envoy at
Constantinople, that similar institutions
maintained and administered by oar
countrymen. shall be secured in the en-
| joyment of all rights and that our citi-
zens throughout the empire shall be pro.
| tected. The government however, IN
view of existing facts, is as from religious
| upon such surrenders as the limit of Its
duty Our minister has been vigilant
and alert in affording all possible pro
lection in individual cases where danger
threatened or safety was imperilled We
have sent ships as far toward the points
of actual disturbance as it is possible for
them to GO where they offer refuge
to those obliged to flee, and we
have the promise Of other powers
which have ships in the neighboring
that our citizens as well as theirs will be
rect ivcd and protected on board those
ships,
On the demand Of our minister, orders
have been issued by the Sultan that
Turkish soldiers shall guard and escort to
the coast American refugees. These
orders have been carried out and our
latest intelligence gives assurance of the
present personal safety of our citizens and
missionaries Though thus far no lives
of American citizens have been sacrificed,
there can be no doubt that serious loss
ard destruction of mission property have
resulted from riotous conflicts and out
rageous attacks. BY treaty several of the
most powerful European powers have
secured II right and have assumed
duty not only in behalf of their
own citizens and in furtherance OF
their own interests, but as agents
of the Christian world Their right
| is to enforce such conduct of the
| Turkish government as will restrain
fanatics brutality, and if this fails their
duty is to SO interfere as to end such dread
| full occurrences in Turkey as have lately
shocked civilization. The powers declare
| this right and this duty to be theirs alone
! and it i earnestly hoped that prompt and
effective action on their part will not be
delayed. 1 he new cOnsulatcs at Erseroum
| and HarpoOt, for which appropriation
WAS made last session, have been prOvis-
| iunaily filed by trusted employees of the
department Of state. These appointees.
though now in turkey nave NOT YET &c
cciyed their cxequaturc.
The arbitration of the claim of the Ven
ezucla Steam Transportation Company un-
der the treaty of January 10, 1892, between
the United States and Venezuela, resulted
in an award in favor of the claimant. The
government has used it, good offices
toward composing the differences between
Venezuela on the one hand and Franco
and Belgium on the other growing out of
the dismissal of the repre- ,entativcs of
those powers on the ground of publica
ton deemed offensive to Venezuela. AL
though that dismissal was coupled with a
cordial request that ottcr more personally
agreeable ENJOYS be sent in their stead, a
rupture of intercourse enSucd, and still
continues.
The Consular Service.
In view of the growth Of our interests
in foreign countries and the encouraging
prospects for "A general expansion Of onr
commerce, the question of an improve
ment in the consular service has increased
in Importance and urgency. Though
l., hot ha ,f