Abilene weekly reflector., 1895-12-26
ON TURKEY
Secretary Olney siaKes n Report In Accord
ance with q senate hesolution.

Yesterday replied TO the senate reso-
luton OF December 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
sacre at Moosh in August, 1891
in substance, the secretary's re-
port recounts oil that has been
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 estl-
mating the number OF Armenians
killed at 10000, and after citing several
cases wherein naturalized Americans
have been opprcssively treated, states
that proper steps have been taken to
secure indemnity in all cases and TO
protect naturalized citizens in their
treaty rights.
Secretary Olney says that the num-
Der Of United States citizens in Turkey
is not accurately known, but there are
ne American missionaries scattered
over Asia Minor and numbers OF cltl-
zens In business besides naturallzed
Armenians temporarily residing In
Turkey, and that probably the whole
number of these persons Is between
500 and 600 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: "Ilnder these clrcum'
stances and In the midst OF the alarm
ing agitation which for more than a
year past has existed in Asia Minor, II
has been no slight task for the repre-
sentative Of the United States to fol'
low the interests OF those whose de-
Tense necessarily falls to his care,
to demand and obtain the meas
ures indispensable to their safety
md 10 act instantly upon every appeal
for help in view OF real or apprehended
peril II is, however, gratifying u
bear testimony to the energy anc
promptness of the minister in dealing
with every grievance brought to HE
notice and his foresightin 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 us occasion required anc
at the present time the San francisco
and Marblehead are about to be joinet
by the Minneapolis which has lately
been ordered TO the eastern waters O
the Mediterranean, the squadron being
under command Of Rear Admiral Self
ridge, an officer whose record indicates
the necessary discretion In dealinE
with whatever emergencies may arise
The secretary says that while the
physical safety Of the citizens appears
up to the present 70 have been secured
their property has beet destroyed o.
ut least two occasions The .Nsage
reports from the Harpoot riots o1
November last show that American
mission property was destroyed to the
estimated value of 100000 and the
porte has been notified that 1t will bt
held responsible for full satisfaction
The value OF the property destroyed
at Marash, November 10, by the burn
ing Of the American missionary schoo
OF science has not been ascertained
but after investlga tion indemnity will
also be demanded in that case.
Apart from these general incidents
Secretary 0lney reports upon severa
cases Of individual citizens who suf
fcred in life an person in Turkey, be
ginning with Lenz, the bicyclist, whose
murder was unearthed with the eff
cient aid OF the British consul al
Erzeroum. At last accounts Ave OF
six Kurs and Armenians were to be
put to trial for the murder
Secretary 0lncy next treats Of ar
rests Of American citizens in violation
OF treaty rights, Of which there have
been number. although hc says
"the treaty in terms gives to the min
listers and consuls authority and power
to punish American offenders, and ab,
solutely excludes their Imprisonment
by Turkish authorities, the Ottoman
government while admitting tC
this extent the English render
ing of the treaty, has on fre
quent occasions, assumed to imprisor
citizens of the United States on Grim
inal charges and denied the rights Of
agents Of this government TO efiec
their punishment A 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 undel
circumstances suggesting their com
plicity In the revolutionary schemes
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