Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-11-20
SULTAN TOSALISBURY
An Incident Unparalleled in The His
tory Of British Diplomacy
LETTER on ARMENIAN REFORMS.
The Turkish Ruler Gives His Word
of Honor That They shall he In
ccutcd-C communication Read at
Public Meeting.
Public Meeting.

LONDON. November 19.--An incident
that is unparalleled in the annals Of
English diplomacy occurred this evening
at the conference of the Colonial Agents
I'm London. This was the reading Of
letter from the Sultan OF Turkey TO Lord
Salisbury. begging him to make a speech
that would Offset the one he delivered
on the occasion of the banquet given by
the new Lord-Mayor of London.
Lord Salisbury referred to the impro-
prlety OF reading the letter at the confer
ence. but he took advantage of the
occasion simply TO grant as far as he
could the request made by the Sultan.
At the outset Of his speech the Prime
Minister said: ALLOW me 10 say a word
in answer to very distinguished distant
correspondent. If | may so term him, who
has requested me 10 make a statement IN
some public speech. My correspondent is
no less a parsonage than the Sultan Of
Turkey" loud cheers) II feel that
there is profound improperly in forcing
diplomatic matters on your attention, ana
1 hope you will believe that nothing
would have induced me TO produce on
IillH OAtdr4tit iilt duEIrl Il+rrdSt NnAll
read, except the distinct commands of
the person from whom it proceeded"
Lord Salisbury then referred 10 the
speech he delivered at the Guild Hall on
the occasion OF the banquet given by the
new Lord Mayor OF London. on Novem-
Der 9Th. and added: Ills Majesty has
been pleased To send me a message To
say that he has been very much panied
10 read the report of that speech. and the
expression of the opinion that the
promised reforms in Turkey would not
be executed. His Majesty desires it 10
be known that he is carrying out those
reforms decided upon by him. He is
desirous OF executing them at the earliest
possible moment. and has so repeated
ly instructed his ministers His Majesty
continues. The only reason why Lord
Salisbury should thus throw doubts on
my good intentions must be the intrgues
Of certain persons here, or false state
men,s made 10 cause such an opinion.
HIS WORD OF HONOR.
after immaterial observations, his Ma
jesty says: 1 repeat that | viii execute
the reforms. | Will take the paper con-
tanning them. place II before me, and
see that the article is put in force. This
Is my earnest determination. and ] give
my word OF honor. ! wish Lord Salisbury
to know this. and / beg and desire his
Lordship. having confidence in his, de-
carations. to make another speech by
virtue Of the friendly feeling and DISPOSE
tion be has for me and my country. |
shall await the result of this message
with the greatest anxiety.
when ths Prime Minister had finished
reading the letter he waa greeted with
loud applause.
When quiet had been restored be again
appealed to his hearers 10 ncqut him OF
impropriety for such an unpre recedented
act as reading such a message at a public
meeting, but declared that he could not
abstain from reading 1t without showing
discourtesy to the distinguished potentate
who had written IL. He then said: "As
YOU know, We are part of the concert of
Europe. which has resolved, so FAR as
IL acts. TO act with unanimity. Some
persons seem 10 imagine that we dispose
OF the decisions of the European Powers.
That Is creditng Us wfth more influence
than we possess Whatever Is done must
be done with unanimity. | do not admit
that responsibility for any decision that
the Powers make rests entirely, or
mainly. on this country. We and all the
Powers are In position common u those
who are obliged TO act together-namely.
that If others do not agree with them,
ilfY cannot nave AilfI NNu n'ss hNN
| in no-wise desire to intimate by these
words that the slightest shade Of dis
agreement has arisen among the Powers.
RUSTEM PASHA.
Lord Salisbury expressed deep regret
for the apparently irrecoverable illness
or Rustem Pasha. the Turkish Ambassa-
dor TO Great Britain. and said that he
had been a most valuable Intermediary
between the Ottoman and British govern
ments But il was not this that had
given him name among the statesmen
Of Europe. lie was a man VINO, by
combining iirmncss, justice. and concilia-
ton. had brought peace 10 the Lebanon
District when il was torn with the dis
senslOns of race and creed lie could
not help feeling that /; men Ike Rustfm
Pasha had had charge of the districts
in which the recent horrors had occur
red. the conscience OF Europe would never
have been tried nor it's sympathlcs rackei
by the details Of suffering and terror
IL" he continued there We're men
like Rustem Pasha around the sultan,
the problem would not he solved by rN-
terndi action OF the advising Powers.
which is = clumsy device at the best. II
would be- solved bv the natural operation
OF the counsels OF an enlightened minor
ity working through efficient ana COM
lFifIt INSTRUMENTS. ~ Nttl-i- 40 not
see the men who are % replace Rustem
pasha / cannot enter into the question
why there are not such now. Twenty
five years ago there We're some such.
81 exhort you 10 consider that the
terrible Armenian problem is quite as
much the want OF competent men as IL
* the want OF adequate laws. The mere
writing OF new provisions and fresh de-
crees cannot supply the place. especially
In Eastern communities. OF Governors
knowing and having the courage and
integrity to perforT~ their duty The
Powers will doubtless DO their best. but
DO not imagine that the deep-seated dis
eases Of the Ottoman empire can be
cured by wave of a maglcians wand.
The results Of long years Of error must
be- paid for. and the law is that those
who Will pay are not those who were
originally guilty OF the offences"
RUSTEM PASHA DEAD
LONDON, November 0.-f \. M.-Rus-
ten Pasha. the Turkish Ambassador 10
Great Britain, died at o'clock this morn
ing.
APPEAL TO THE POPE.