The Butler weekly times., 1895-12-26
ON TURKEY.
Secretary Olney Makes Report in Accord
ance with Senate Resolution.

ASHINGTOS. Dec U.-lhe preSlden'
Yesterday replied TO the senate reso
luton of Decem Der 4. calling for infor-
nation received by the state depart
ment respecting affairs in Turkey.
The response is in the shape OF report
by Secretary Olney, summarizing but
not including the official correspond.
ence, and beginning with the mas
aacre at Moosh in August. 1894.
in substance, the secretary's re,
port recounts all that has beer
done TO protect American citizens
against the rioters: shows that while
their property has suffered IN two in
stances, they have not been injured in
person; quotes Minister Terrell as esd-
mating the number of Armenians
killed at 80, 900, and after citing several
cases wherein naturalized Americans
have been oppressively treated, states
that proper steps have been taken tC
secure indemnity in all eases and TIC
protect naturalized citizens in their
treaty rights.
Secretary Olnev says that the num-
ber of United States citizens in Turkey
is not accurately known. but there are
l72 American missionaries scattered
over Asia Minor and numb bers OF citi-
Zens in business, besides naturalized
Armenians temporarily residing in
Turkey, and that probably the whole
numb Of these persons is between
800 and GOO The bulk of this Amer
lean element is found in the interior
of Asia Minor and Syria, in quar-
ters remote from our consulateS,
isolated and inaccessible, except by
difficult mountain journeys. Says Sec
retary Olney: Under these circum-
stances and in the midst of the alarm
ing agitation which for more than a
year past has existed in Asia Minor, it
has been no slight task for the repre-
sentative of the United States to fol-
low the int erestS of those whose de-
Tense necessarily falls to his care,
to demand and obtain the meas
ures indispensable to their safety.
and to act instantly upon every appeal
for help in view of real or apprehended
peril. 1t is. however. gratifying to
bear testimony to the energy and
promptness of the minister in dealing
with every grievance brought to his
notice and his foresight in anticipating
complaints and securing timely pro-
lection in advance of actual need.
The efforts of the minister have
had the moral support of the presence
of naval vessels of the United States
on the Syrian and Adana coasts from
time to time as occasion required and
at the present time the San Francisco
and Marblehead are about to be joined
by the Minneapolis which has lately
been ordered to the eastern waters of
the Mediterranean, the squadron being
under command Of Rear Admiral Self
ridge, an officer whose record indicates
the necessary discretion in dealing
with whatever emerge ncies may arise"
The secretary says that while the
physical safety of the citizens appears
up to the present to have been secured,
their property has been destroyed on
at least two occasions. The meager
reports from the Harpoot riots of
Novem ber last show that American
mission property was destroyed to the
estimated value Of 500, 900 and the
porte has been notified that it will be
held responsible for full satisfaction.
The value of the property destroyed
at Marash, Novem Der 10, by the burn
ing of the American missionary school
of science has not been ascertained,
but after investi~a tion indemnity will
also be demanded IN that case
Apart from these general incidents,
Secretary Olney reports upon several
cases of individual citizens who suf-
fered in life and person in Turkey, be-
ginning with Lenz, the bicyclist, whose
murder was uEc. cthed with the etf-
cient aid of the British consul at
Erzeroum,' At last accounts five or
six kurds and Arineuians were tc be
put to trial for the murder.
Secretary Olney next treats of ar
rests of American citizens in violation
of treaty rights. of which there have
been a NUN Der. "Although." he says,
1.-The treaty in terms gives to the min
listers and consuis authority and power
to punish American offenders, aud alb
solutely excludes their imprisonment
by Turkish authorities, the Ottoman
government, while admitting TO
this extent the English render
ing of the treaty, has on fre-
quent occasions, assumed to imprison
| citizens of the United States on Grim
inal charges and denied the rights of
agents of this government to effect
their punishment \ fruitful source
OF such assertion of authority is found
IN the case of persons of Armenian
| origin, naturalized in the United
| States, and returning within the terri
torial jurisdiction Of Turkey under
| circumstances suggesting their com
| plicitv in the revolutionary schemes
| alleged to he rife in Asia Minor