Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-12-20
Communication from Secretary 0lney
on The Turkish 0utraSeS.
n il Relieved 20 nc More Apparent
Than Real American Womcn md
Icnx'> Death.

Secretary Olncy states that the number
NJ citizens Of the United States resident
I'm the Turkish empire is not accurately
snoun: but there are i72 American mis-
,onarics and dependents scattered over
Asia Minor. There are also number
n American citizens engaged in business
M The Turkish dominions. and others
,ricinany Turkish subjects. but now ma
uralzed citizens OF the United States
rhe bulk Of this American element Is 10
y, found remote from our Jew consular
,stahlishments
BE bears testimony 10 the energy and
rromptneSs displayed by our Minister
Or. Tcrrn. in taking measures for their
protection. which had received the moral
,1rport Of naval vessels OF the United
states.
lie adds that while the physical safety
rr United States citizens seemed 10 be
assured their properly had been destroy
ri al Harpoot and Marssh. in the former
esso 70 the extent Of $4,000 The Turkish
government had been notified that IL
would be held responsible for immediate
and full satisfaction for all injuries on
that score. The loss Of American pro
rerty at Marash had not been ascer-
tanned. but like demand for adequate
Indemnity would be made as soon as the
facts were known
The correspondence refers TO the killing
n Frank LEM. the American bicyclist
and states that six persons, "koords and
ATmenians." were TO be put on trial for
The murder.
DESERVING ATTENTION.
The case Of George webber. a ma
iuralized citizen Of the United States.
born in Bavaria is referred to as de
serving attention. He. a man 20 years
old was cspriciously arrested at Konia
and transported part Of the distance on
foot and part on a rough cart, to
Broussa, and thrown into prison, where
le died during the night without medical
attendance. and from the result of his
rough treatment. Demand had been made
for the removal OF the officials guilty of
disregardcd Webber's American pass
ports. but 1t is added These just de-
mands have not so far borne fruit"
third incident Is r-ntioned. as fol-
lows. on the night Of the 4th OF August.
the premises OF DR. Christie. principal
~ St Pauls Institute. at Tarsus. who
was spending the summer months at the
yeighboring village of Namroun, were in
vaded by an armed mob, obviously In
pursuance OF a preconcerted plan. and
an outrag eous attack made on a defence
less native servant of Dir. Christie's, and
on some students OF the institute who
were then at NamrOun. The authors OF
this brutal attack were abundantly identl-
fed. and through the prompt Intervention
q the United States Consul al Beiru
and the consular agent at MerZine CHE
. rn
made Notwithstanding the peremptory
demand Of the United States Minister for
simple Justice however. the assailants,
when taken before the local Judge OF
Tarsus. were released
SO grave did this miscarriage of justice
sppear that an early occasion was taken
10 send the Marblehead to Merzine to in
vestigate the incident. and lend all proper
moral aid 10 the consular representatives
If the United States in pressing for due
redress Their efforts to this end were
most cordially seconded by the Project of
alerzine. and on october 18th last the
accused, 10 the number Of eight, were
brought 10 trial AL Tarsus. and convicted
upon the evidence, subsequently confess
ing their guilt.
The signal rebuke administered In high
places. where responsibility really existed
and was abused. coupled with the estao-
ishment of the important principle that
American domicile in Turkey may not
DC violated with impuniiy, renders the
conclusion Of this incident satisfactory.
EXTRA TERRITORIAL JURlSDIC-
TON.
Secretary Oiney continues as follows:
Besides the foregoing cases of physical
injury 10 the persons OF American citi-
gems or invasion OF domiciliary rights
the language OF the Senate resolution
nay be construed as covering the cases
4 arrests OF such citizens, and OF pro-
,eedlngs against them in violation of
reaty rights number Of instances
u this character have occurred.
AS the subject is development OF
the long-standing contention between the
United States and Turkey touching the
true intent and construction Of the fourth
article in the treaty OF 1890. in rela-
ion 10 the extra-territorial jurisdiction OF
he United States over it's citizens COM
hitting offences in Turkey. its eiabo-
rate discussion in this place is neither
practical nor opportune.
1t suffices To say that, although the
treaty in terms gives 10 ministers and
consuls authority and power to punish
American offenders. the Ottoman Gov
eminent. while admitting 10 this extent
the English rendering Of the treaty.
has on frequent occasions assumed To
N criminal charges. and denied the right
- the agents OF this government 10
feet their punishment
A fruitful source Of such assertion OF
authority rs found i'm the case of per-
sons OF Armenian origin. naturalized
the United States. and returning with
In the territorial jurisdiction Of Turkey
Indcr circumstances suggesting their
-ompiicity in the revolutionary schemes
- rtf Ia
Holding. as II must and should. that
10 distinction can exist under the sta
-gfes OF the United States between ma
I've and naturalizes citizens 50 that ii is
as clearly the right and duty OF this gov
ssrment 10 extend the full measure of It's
protection 10 the one as TO the other.
md finding neither in the treaty nor In
bur iurisdiCtional explanation any dis
motion Of the criminal offence charged
but on the contrary. seeing that by our
Avs our ministers and consuls have ex-
press Jurisdiction over charges OF insur-
fecfion and rebellion, when committed In
foreign country by Americans. as well
ss Of lesser offences OF similar charac-
er-this government Us unable 70 forego
ts right 10 the premises, and cannot re-
nQuish jurisdiction over any citizen.
syen though after naturalization he re-
furn TO his native land and Identify him
se.f with it, political conspiracies.
30 DIMINUTION OF OUR CLAIM
The right 20 try and punish our citi-
gens committing offences In Turkey has
been 50 uniformly and ably upheld by the
s3ccessiye Secretaries OF state since con
iention On the subject was first preached
in lsg2. that no dimlpution Of our claim
an be considered at this important juno
tlse
consequently the United states Minis
Tor ~ constantlnople has been instructed