The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1895-06-05
Special to the REcoRD-UN1ox.

Special to the RECoRD-UNIoN.
CoNSTANTINoPLE, June 4.-The reply
of the Turkish Government to notes of
representatives of Great Britain, France
and Russia regarding proposed reforms
In Ammonia has been delivered TO the en-
voys. The Porte's answer is not salts
factory. The Turkish Government does
not agree to the principle of control of the
proposed reforms by the Powers.
After receiving the reply the envoys of
the three Powers held injecting, at which
they decided to refer the whole matter to
their respective Governments.
The situation is serious, as last week
the British EN- mbassy informed the Porte
that Great Britain had decided not to ac-
cept any modification of the propositions
affecting reforms in Armenia, and repre-
sentatives of the other Powers have made
the same declaration to the Porte
The reply of the Turkish Government
causes surprise. 1t is thought such an
answer would not have been given with
out ENCOURAGEMENT from some European
PoWer. But the presence of the British
Mediterranean squadron, consisting OF
seventeen ships, at BeyrOut points to au
agreement between Great Britain, France
ana hussla TO force Turkey to comply
with the demands of the Powers
Consequently, interesting news may
shortly be flashed from Beyrout. SYRIA.
where 1t Is belived the British fleet will
be called upon TO support the demands of
the three Powers.s
The measures which Great Britain.
France and Russia insist upon as pre-
umlnary to reform include the appoint
ment OF High Commissioner from Ar
a outr IL q
all political prisoners, the revision of GER
tain Judgments, and the appointment OF
commission to sit at ConstantinODle
charged with the application of the re-
forms and working in concert with the
High Commissioner.
1t is also demanded by the Powers that
the Governor and Vice Governors of
Van, Erzeroum, Sivas, Bitlas, Hartoum
and Trebizond be Christians or Mussul-
mans, according as the populations of the
places named Is inclined. In any case.
however, either the Governor or Vice
Governor OF the places named is to be
Chrlstrian, and the appointment of those
officials IS TO be by the Powers Taxes
are 10 be collected by local and not by
State officials. and enough is to be re-
tanned before the money is forwarded to
Constantlnople to provide for the cost of
local government, as under the present
system all tax money is first sent to Con-
stantinople, and but little of it returns
to Armenia.
The Powers also propose to compel the
Porte TO make radical changes in the in
dicIal system, in order to secure tair
trials, the surveillance of prisons and
the abolition OF torture, and the police is
to be composed of Turks and Christians
equally. Finally, the Turkish Govern
ment is to be compelled to strictly en-
1orce the laws against compulsory con-
y1ctlons to lslamism.
AS already cabled by the Associated
Press, when the Sultan read the note OF
the representative Powers outlining the
proposed reforms, he was not unfayorably
impressed. He had several conferences
with the foreign ambassadors. and the
Austrian Elm bassador urged him to ac.
qu!esce IN the demands of the Powers.
But IL was added at the time that the Sui
tan appeared to be counting upon the
moral support of Emperor William of
Germany, to whom he is known TO have
sent an autograph letter on the subject.
THE SULTAN MAY TAKE HIS CHOICE. a
LONDON, June 1.-The ,Sta1sd0rd'S cor
respondent at Constantinople telegraphs
as follows: L learn from trustworthy
source that the reply of the Porte to the
British, French and Russian notes i'll
reference TO reforms in Armenia,
rejects the proposal TO appoint a High
Commissioner in Armenia and mixed
commission, and proposes merely to ap-
ply the reforms provided for in the old
Aristarchi code, which has been nomi-
nally in force during the last half CEN
tury. The reply also grants amnesty to
all Armenians who have been implicated
In recent events in Armenia.
1t is believed the Powers will now fix
a date for the special acceptance of their
scheme, failing in which they will pro-
ceed TO enforce it.
In an editorial commenting on the fore
going dispatch the Standard suggests that
the scheme proposed by the Powers is a
device to gain time. The Sultan, it says,
must make his choice. He must accept
the reforms proposed or see Armenia
severed from his empire.