The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-01-15
BY MURDER.
How the Sultan Is Said to 30 Work.
ing Out Reforms.
TURKISH MINISTER is GRIEvED
At "Cross and Unjust Abuse"
Z Heaped Upon His Nation.

ASblNblONt Jun. lO.-A uisputCn ifOui
New York gives the outline OF an interest
ing talk about tho sultan's purpose by
Henry Norman, the representative Of tho
London Daily Chronicle Mr.. Norman,
when asked about the report that the sui
tan had refused 10 allow any OF the Red
Cross workers TO enter Armenia, did not
seem at all surprised. He said, In mat
ter-of- fuct way:
THAT is just what one would naturally
look for. predicted that no Red Cross
agent-man or woman-coud enter the
country. IL Is a most perilous undertak-
ing To enter Armenia now. The snow Is
deep, the provisions for public relief are
practically worthless, the roads are rugged
and almost impossible. When i heard
that Miss Clara Barton intended To go
into Armenia, / said that she could not
make it, rs she would not be able TO pass
the roads, even IL she could stand the
rough weather.
"rhe Sultan OF Turkey is working out
his own reforms In Armenia, and he is
doing IL In his own way. He docs not
want tho civilized world TO know what he
Is doing. and the entrance OF Red Cross
missionaries into this country mt this time
would reveal the awful condition 10 them.
They would send back word that would
cause every civilized nation to rise In arms
against him.
~ make the statement advlsedly when
sny the Sultan OF Turkey is effecting his
reforms In Armenia by numbering those
who oppose him, aud reducing TO such
state OF terror those who fear 10 oppose him
that they arc no longer human. Wanton
and premeditatcd butchery Is going on
all the time The sultan makes pre-
tensions. but does nothing. believe that
before he has put an end 20 his so-called
reforms In Armenia he will have muir
dered one-fourth OF the Inhabitants.
"Miss Barton could command the car OF
the civilized world. She is n woman who
has record for truth, and whose state
mcnts are To be believed, and they would
be acted upon by Americans and al Eng
disappearing people. No wonder the sui
tan did not want her In the country and
barred her out. think that this act will
do much 20 bring about settlement of
the Eastern troubles. The sultan cannot
bo condemned too seriously. for he knows
all that Is going on"
Turkish Minister Talks.
In an interview yesterday, the Turkish
minister said: You ask me what have
60 say about the following statement:
The Red Cross society has decided not TO
pay any attention TO the communication
until IL is officially transmitted TO il by
the Turkish government or the Turkish
minister.
my answer is very simple, and IL is the
following: Tho Red Cross has never
communicated with this legation. 1t has
only coimnus sicatcd, 10 my knowledge,
with the press and tho public, It's presi-
don't, Miss Clara Barton, assisting, with
out protest at public meetings whore the
o1,
the Turkish government, religion aud
race. AS tho Red Gross or any Of its
representatives never visited this legation,
it Is clear and logical that this legation
had nothing TO communicate TO said SO.
ciety.
"This legation sent its communication
to the press because it is the public that
the Red Cross took In its confidence, but
naturally / always will be ready aud
pleased 10 give 10 tho Red Cross society
any explanation 1t may think it proper To
ask for. But l wish you to understand
that even today, Notwithstanding the
contrary assurances OF intereJed parties,
the Turkish government has no animosity
whatever against the Armenians and only
wishes to see them prosper under It's legiti-
mate and rghtful authority"
statesmen Indignant.
Lie uCllOu lne. lufklSn government
in shutting out the Red Cross society from
that country and preventing assistance
from reaching the Armenians has caused
much unfavorabe comment at the Capitol.
Members of the foreign relations commit
tee of the senate are not inclined to pub
licly discuss the NATTER but privately ex-
press their surprise aud Indignation at
the conduct OF n government that thus
shuts the door in the face Of an organiza-
tion recognized by the whole world as ons
intended 20 relieve the miseries of man.
kind and aid the afflicted.
Mr. Cullom, chairman OF the sub-com-
mittee having the Armenian question in
hand, said that he did not see what this
government could do in the premises,
much as he deplored &C. If the Turkish
government took this step he was not
aware of any way through which this gov
ernment conld effectually protest. The
action so far taken appears 20 be that OF
the accredited minister TO the United
States, and the committee Is not inclined
TO accept 1t as final until such instructions
come from Constantnople itself.
How tho Red Cross Stands.
PHILADELPHIA, Jan. l5.--The Press to-
day prints letter from Clara Barton on
the Armenian question. She states that
the first appeal for the Red Cross to act
came from the missionary boards Of Con-
stantinople. To this two conditions were
mado--that the request come from tho
people of tho entire country and that sufll.
eieht money should be realized. The first
was complied with, and the national com
mittee guaranteed sufficient funds. The
international committee of Geneva Off
cial head OF all the Red Cross treaty ma.
tionals, having no objection, preparations
for sailing were made. The American
Red Cross had no part In raising the
money; its only mission being To distrib
ute, The came the objection from the
Turkish government. Miss Barton de
clares that that government Is not antag.
onistic TO the Rcd Cross as such. but OBJ.
jects tn the distribution Of foreign relief
on nntirelr d dlffnrenf nrnnnds nathan In