Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-01-15
TURKEY AND THE RED CROSS
Views on Armenian Relisfas Expressed by
the Turkish Minister.
Miss Barton Says That the Society is
Not Aggressive-A Statement From
t.e National Committee.

Inc TURKISH minister mere mas mace tHe
following statement in regard to the report
that the Red Cross Society will pay no at
tention to his announcements unless COM
municated to it through official channels:
1.-THE Red Cross has never communicated
with this legation. 1t has only communi-
Gated, to my knowledge, with the press and
the public, its president, Miss Clara Barton,
assisting, without protest. at public meet
ings, where the most gross and unjust abuse
was made of the Turkish government, re-
ligion and race. AS the Red Cross. or any
of it's representatives, never visited this le-
cation, it is clear and logical that this lega-
ton has nothing to communicate to said
society. This legation sent it's communica-
ton to the press, because it is the public
that the Red Cross took in its confidence.
But, naturally, / Will always be ready and
pleased to give to the Red Cross Society any
explanation it may think it proper to ask
for.
This whole question:" added the minister,
is question of right. Suppose, for one
moment, that your own Indians were to re-
volt against your legitimate authority. Sup
pose that you put down their revolt, and
suppose that in some foreign country some
foreigners We're to calumniate publicly your
civilization, your race and your religion.
Not satisfied with that. suppose that those
foreigners, on the strength of such false
accusations, were to raise money and bring
nels, however respectable the latter may
be, to the very people that revolted against
your government. Would that money,
raised ON hatred and denunciation, would
even moral aid for foreigners, be well
coined to this great country of yours, how
ever welcome it might be, for obvious rea-
sons, to your Indians? AS you see, this
whole question Is very clear one. But l
wish you at the same time to understand
that, even today, notwithstanding the con-
trary assurances of interested parties, the
Turkish government has no animosity what
ever against the Armenians. and only wishes
to see them prosper under it's legitimate and
rightfu1 authority.
Miss Bnrton's Statement.
Miss Clara Barton. president of the Red
Cross Society, has given out statement to
the press, as follows:
ION the 18th of January a statement
reached headquarters that the imperial gov
eminent of Turkey would not permit any
distribution among his subjects in his own
territory by any foreign society, or indi-
v;duals, however respectable the same may
be- as for instance, the Red Cross Society,
of money collected abroad
"a careful perusal Of the context Of the
statement will show that the Turkish gov
eminent is not antagonstic to the Red
Cross. as such, which it recognizes as a part
OF its own treaty relations, and for which,
in it's statement, it publicly expressed its
respect, but objects to the distribution Of
foreign relief on entirely different grounds
neither in Its power or ours to control.
I'VE also desire to add that any publica
ton, to the effect that the Red Cross is ag-
81 essive in the matter, and intending to act,
n spite Of authority or cooperation, is en-
tirely incorrect, and that any statements
conveying that meaning, in the slightest
degree, is not official, and has not been made
nor suggested. even in spirit. by any officer
or member of the Red Cross
From the National, Committee.
The following official statement has been
issued from the headquarters Of the ma
tional Armenian relief committee at New
York:
THE reported intention of the Turkish
government to refuse the American Red
Cross Society permission to enter Turkey
will not cause the national Armenian relief
committee and its branches throughout the
country torelaX their efforts for, N instant
in raising funds to save the $4,000 Ar
menians who are perishing from starvation
and exposure. .r.-.
''The national committee is the author
lied agency throughout the country for
raising funds and supplies to be distributed
by the Red Cross, provided it enters the
field, but in case the Red Cross is excluded
the national committee has authority to
exclude existing agencies on the ground or
organize new ones, 80 that all contributors
may be assured that their gifts will as
speedily as possible reach the sufferers for
whom they are intended.
MANY are not aware of the fact that re-
lief work to the extent of not less than
100000 has already been successfully car
ried out in Turkey during the past three
months, under the dire cton of strong and
representative committee Of foreign resi-
dents and diplomats in Constantinople,
through European consuls and the Ameri-
cans who are found to be in all the prin-
clpal cities of the Interior.
"a letter received from Constantinople,
dated December q states that sixty bales
of clothing had been forwarded that week
to Sesarea. and that it is now possible to
forward large amounts of money safely to
those engaged in this work in the devas-
tated regions. The Red Cross could greatly
enlarge this work.
1T seems incredible that while the Turk
ism government is permitting such relief
work 1t should exclude the Red Cross.
which, as is we'll known, will not step over
suffering Turk or Kurd to help an Ar
menian.
Meanwhile all the funds should continue
to be sent to Messrs. Brown Brothers &
Co., 81 Wall street, treasurers of the ma
t1onal Armenian relief committee"