The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1895-12-20
AMERICANS IN TURKEY,

President to-day made response TO tho
senate resolution OF December Z, call
ing for information received by the
state department respecting affairs In
Turkey. The response Is in the shape
OF a report by Secretary Olney, SUM
marizing, but not including, the otii-
clal correspondence and beginning with
the massacres at Moosh In August,
1894. In substance the secTeary's re-
port recounts all that has been done
10 protect American citizens against
the rioters; shows that while their pro-
perty has suffered In two instances,
they have not been injured In person,
quotes Minister Terrell, as estimating
the number OF Armeulans killed at 3O,-
900 and after citing several cases
wherein naturalized Americans have
been oppressiVoly treated, states that
proper steps have been taken 70 secure
indemnity In all cases and TO protect
our naturalized citizens in their treaty
rights.
Secretary olney says the number OF
United States citizens In Turkey Is not
accurately known, hut there are l72
American missionaries scattered over
Asia Minor and the numbers OF our cit
izens IN business, beside nRturallzed
Armeninns temporarily residing In
Turkey and that probably the whole
number OF these persons Is between
800 and 600. The bulk OF this Ameri-
can element Is found In the interior OF
Asia Minor and Syria In quarters re-
mote from our consulates, isolated and
Inaccessible, except by difficult noun
tain Journeys, Says Secretary olney:
Promptly Dealt With.
"Under these circumstances. and in
tho midst OF the alarming agitation
which for more than q year past has
existed In Asia Minor, It has been no
slight task for the representative OF the
United States TO follow the interest of
those whose defense necessarily falls
10 his care, to demand and obtain the
measure indispensable to their safety
and 10 act instantly upon every appeal
for help in view OF real or lpprehended
peril. II Is, however, gratifying TO bear
testimony TO the energy and prompt
ness OF the minister dealing with every
grievance brought to his notice, and
his foresight In anticipating complaints
and securing timely protection in i'd
vance OF actual need. The efforts of
the minister have had the moral sup
port Of the presence OF naval vessels
OF the United States on the Syrian and
Albanian coasts from time to time as
occasion required, and at the present
time the San Francisco and Marble
head are about to be Joined by the Min.
neapolls, which has lately boen ordered
to the eastern waters OF the Mediter-
ranean."
Continuing, the SECRETARY says that
while the physical safety OF our citizens
appears up TO the present, TO have been
secured, their property has been de-
stroyed on at least two occasions. Tho
menRre reports from the Harpoot riots
OF November last show that American
mission property was destroyed to tho
estimated value OF 100000. and the
porte has been notified that It will bH
held responsible for full satisfaction.
The value OF the property destroyed at
Marash, November 10, by the burning
OF the American missionary school OF
science has not been ascertalned, but
after investigation indemnity will also
be demanded in that case.
Apart from these general Incidents,
Secretary Olney reports upon several
cases OF individual citizens who suffer
ed In life and person In Turkey, begin
ming with Lenz, the bicycllst. whose
murder was unearthed with the Gtii-
Client aid OF the British consul ut Err
eroum." Al last accounts five or six
Kurds and Armeninns were to be put
to trial for the murder. Several other
incidents were rccited.
Secretary Olney says at this point:
"The signal rehuke administered In
high places where responsibility really
existed and was abused, coupled with
the establishment OF the important
principle that American domioile in
Turkey may not be violated with i'm
punity. renders the conclusion OF this
Incident satisfactory"
Secretary Olney next treats OF arrests
OF American citizens In violation OF
treaty rights, OF which there have been
a number He says this subject touches
the long standing contention between
the United States and Turkey over the
treaty OF 1880. recognizing American
extra territorial Jurisdiction In Turkey.
on this point the secretary says:
although the treaty in terms gives
TO the ministers and consuls authority
and power TO punish American offend
crs and absolutely excludes their I'm.
prisonment by the Turkish authorities,
the Ottoman government, while admit
ting to this extent the English render
ing of the treaty, has on frequent oc-
cRslons assumed TO lmprtson citizens OF
the United States on criminal charges
and denied the right OF the agents Of
this government to effect their punish-
mcnt.
Stands by the Treaty.
Holding, as 1t must and should. that
no distinction can exist under the stat
utes OF the United States between ma
tive and nHturalized citizens, this gov
ernmont is unable to forego It's right In
the premises md cannot relinquish jur-
Isdictlon over any citizen, even though
after naturalization he return 10 his
native land md Identify himself with
It's political conBpiraoles. The right
TO try and punish our citizens commits
ting OffcnBes In Turkey has been so
uniformly and ably upheld by the sue
ccsslvo secretaries Of state since con-
tcntion on the subject was FIRST broRch.
cd In 1869. that no dlminutlon OF our
claim can bo considered at this import.
ant juncturc.
Tho secretary quotes Minister Ter
rcll as notifying tho porte that II one
Of the American women teachers Of the
American school OF HRdjin was injured
he would demand tho head OF the "kni.
maltam" OF HHdjin and Mr.. Olnoy
closes nB follows:
AT the present moment tho tempo,
rhry lull in the turbulence IA believed
TO he more apparent than real. a tclc-
gram lust received from the minister
under date OF the 10th, Expresses the
ErRvcst approximations CONCERNING the
ultimate fate OF American citizens IN
the disturbed district, unless the APP
pnlllng fnnssncrcB can be stopped BY
the united efforts OF the Chrlstinn pow.
ora. He secs no hope, however, Of nm
European concert 20 that end. He snyB
that II the missionaries wish to leave
Turkey, ho can procure their transport
tntlon 10 Christian ports; II the men
wish 10 remain he can Rot oHcoit for NIL
10 the sea conHt, whcrcupOn the men
can return, but hc nddB that the women