The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-04-20
Letters That Throw Additional Light
ON the Venezuelan Dispute and Our
Relations with Turkey.
TROUBLES OF MISSIONARIES
WHY AMERICAN JEWS ARE NOT PER-
MrTTED TO STAY IN JERUSALEM.
The Porte Fears They VIII Steal the
Poser for Beef Packers.

WASHINGTON. April 1e.-There is most
interesting history CT the now important
controversy between Great Britain and
Venezuela over the boundary line contained
in the published diplomats correspondence
of the State Department for the last year.
This brings the subject down from the
point where 1t was merely long drawn out
diplomatic wrangle to the more recent and
acute phase, where the Venezuelans have
been obliged to appeal pathetically to the
United States to interfere actively to pre-
vent an enormous extension of the British
claims to Venezuelan territory, including
even the control of the navigation of that
great artery of commerce, the Orinoco
river. The correspondence begins in Octo-
Der, 1893, when DR.. Labo, then in charge of
the Venezuelan legation here. supplied
Secretary Gresham with long statement
of the exact issue between Great Britain
and Venezuela, and runs until December
last. The critical phase which the case has
now assumed is shown by the last pub
lished letter from the Venezuelan Foreign
Minister to United States Minister Halle
ton. dated Dec. 7 last He recounts pre-
ceding acts of aggression on the part of
the British and then calls attention to the
fact that the British were projecting a lane
or road to connect the upper Barima with
the Cuyuni, passing through the contested
territory. The Venezuelan government, he
says. has already served notice on the Brit
doubt produce collision with the Venezue-
Ian authorities in that region: He con-
which / have explained to your Exceliency
Is almost as important to the United States
as to Venezuela herself. The control by
England OF the entry to the mouth OF our
great fuval artery and of some OF it's
tributaries would expose to constant peril
the industry and commerce Of a large por-
ton of the new world. would. in fact. bring
into rfdicule the famous and salutary Mon
practices which in The end might MAKE
Elusive. for some American countries their
own political entity as free and independent
states. most sincerely ask that your Ex-
cellency will be pleased to interpret the
foresoing ideas to the government of the
United States Minister Bartleman, Mt
Caracas, has been negotiating with the
Venezuelan government to secure the re-
mouths of the Orinoco, all of which were
closed with one exception by decree. The
State Department through The seizure of
the steamer Bolivar, of an American line,
for entering one of the forbidden passes
of the river. The Venezuelan government
has taken the ground that the closure of
the evasion of the customs laws, but at
last accounts it had offered to establish a
port near the Gulf of Para, designed for
the entry of foreign freight.
In the diplomatic correspondence between
the United States and Turkey, during the
past year, there is a good deal about Amer
lean missionaries in Turkey and 1t appears
that nearly all of the difficulties which have
arisen have been due to the troubles which
have arisen over the acts of missionaries
objected to by the Turkish government. The
correspondence in the Melton case is quite
voluminous, and the complaints of certain
missionaries that the Turkish government
and officers did not do their full duty In
prosecuting the assailants of Miss Melton,
forms an important part Of the correspond
ence. Minister Terrell, however, in his last
note to the Turkish minister, which is made
a part OF his report to Secretary Gresham.
says; In securing the CONVICTION of the
fenseless woman, in $685. in the village of
Mosul, the Ottoman government has shown
an energy and determination to enforce
justice worthy the highest praise. The con-
viction was effected in remote province
and with many difficulties; Miss Melton
could not even recognize her assailantS,
but the Turkish government has detected
them in wild district. nearly thou
sand miles from its capital and has secured
their conviction.
Another question raised by the mission
aries was the objection to the order of the
chased by foreigners should not be used
for schoohouses and churches, also the
plants were made to Minister Terrell by
the missionaries; they also had sent his
letters to the home Officers a. and these in
closed the letters from Turkey. Most of
these were sent to Minister Terrell, the
familiarity of the minister with the sub
jects would enable him to remove the I'M
favorable conditions ions complained f st or f the
Mr.. Terrell to Mr.. Jewett, a missionary.
in which he says that the legation will
promptly protest against the closing of
American chapels apd schools, and that the
question of the validity of the order pro-
hibitng the sale of land unless it was
spa to be used for
churches or schools. was still unsettled.
Last December the President sent to Con-
gress what information the department had
upon the subject of the alleged cruelties
committed on Armenians in Turkey. Since
place, relating mainly TO the urgent re-
quest OF the United States that Consul
Jewett be, sent to inyestigate the Armenian
eminent to permit him to go.
There was a continuation of the corre-
posed on Jews with United States pass
ports who are not allowed to remain In
sons for the restriction: "We believe that
Jesus Christ was great prophet, and II
win steal the sepulcher of Christ and de-
stroy everything that can remind people
the interview was unexpected. He informed
Said Pasha that he might protest against |
such action in the future. Mr.. Gresham, |
however. intimates that the United States |
will only interfere to give protection to |
American Jews where they are subjected to |
interference.
The rights of Armenians. who had become |
citizens of the United States |
to return to Turkey. caused lengthy cor |
The State Department took |
the ground that the United States would /
protect such naturalized citizens. but it |
would not undertake to enforce perpetual /
allegiance. Where a naturalized citizen |
went to his native country and resided there /
with the intention of remaining. the United |
States would not assume to protect him as
4 citizen of the United States.
Secretary Gresham has shown himself de-
.idedly averse to acting on any provisional /
with Turkey to regulate the
status of naturalized American citizens who
return to that country although he has been
given srch trouble to extend protection to
hem the reason for the Secretary's dec
ination is found in his desire to stop at
nothing short of a formal treaty by which |
he rights of this class of our citizens shall
,e fully guaranteed. In February last year |
he Secretary addressed a letter to United
states Minister Terrell at Constantinople
n which he says that while he has on
several occasions expressed his readiness to
consider any propositions that the Turkish
government might submit in the direction