Evening star., 1895-06-04
Turkeys Reply to the Powers Not
Satisfactory.
REFUSES TEE REFORMS DEMANDED
May Be Forced to Yield Con-
sent.
MANY SHIPS AT BEYROUT

CONSTANTINOPLE, June 4-The reply
of the Turkish government to the notes of
the Representatives of Great Britain,
France and RUSSIA in regard to the pro-
posed reforms in Armenia has been de-
livered to the ENJOYS. The porte's answer
Is not satisfactory. The Turkish govern
ment does not agree to the principle Of the
control of the proposed reforms by the
powers. After receiving the reply the en-
voys OF the three powers held 4 meeting,
at which they decided to refer the whole
matter to their respective governments
The position is serious. as last week the
British embassy informed the Porte that
Great Britain had resolved not to ACCEPT
any notifications of the proposition affect
ing reforms in Armenia, and the repre-
sentatives of the other powers interested
have made the same declaration to the
Porte.
The reply Of the Turkish government
causes surprise, and it is thought that
such an answer would not nave been given
without encouragem from some Eu-
rcpean power. But the presence of the
British Mediterranean squadron, consisting
of seventeen ships. at Beyrout, points to
an agreement between Great Britain.
France and Russia to force Turkey to
comply with the demands of the powers.
Consequently Interesting news may shortly
be flashed from Beyrout, Syria, where it
Is believed the British feet will he called
upon to support the demands of the three
powers.
The Reforms Demanded.
The measures which Great Britain,
France and Russia insist upon as prelim-
mary to reform in Armenia include the
appointment of a high commissioner FOR
Armenia. general amnesty for and release
of all political prisoners. the revision OF
certain judgments and the appointment of
a 1poiS n a a a
charged with the application of the reforms
and working in concert with the high COM
missioner
1t Is also demanded by the powers that
the governors and vice governors of Van,
Er-eroum, Siyas, Bills Khartut and Trebi-
zonde be Christie or Musseiman. accord
Ing as the population of these places Is
inclined. In any case, however, either the
governor OF the vice governor of the places
named is to be a Christian, and the ap-
pointnent of these officials is to be approx
ed by the powers.
Taxes are to be collected by local and not
by state officials, and enough is to be re-
tanned before the money is forwarded to
Constantinople to provide for the cost Of
local administration, as, under the present
system. all tax money is first sent to Con-
stantinopla, from which city but little of it
returns to Armenia
The powers also propose to compel the
Porte to make radical changes in the iu-
dicial system in order to insure fair trials
the surveillance OF prisons and the aboli-
ton of torture and the police is 20 be COM
posed of Turks and Christians equally.
Finally. the Turkish government is TO be
compelled to strictly enforce the laws
against compulsory conversions of Islam
ism.
As already cabled exclusively to the As
sociated Press, when the sultan read the
note of the representatives of the powers
outlining the proposed reforms he was not
unfayorably- impressed. He had several
conferences with the foreign ambassadors,
and the Austrian ambassador urged him to
accede to the demands of the powers.
But, it was added, at the time The sultan
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.