The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-02-01
Salisbury Says England Is Not
Bound to Interfere.
NEW VIEW OF BERLIN TREATY.
1t Didn't Mean Anything at All, the
English Minister Says.
He Does Not Think the sultan Ordered
the Massacres-E England Is Not CO.
ing to stop the killing. Nor Are
the Other Powers. and Gladstone Is
Wrong, Salisbury believes.

London, Jan. 3l.-The banquet OF the
Non-Conformist Unionist Association at
the Hotel Metropoie tonight was the occa-
sion of an address by the Marquis of Sails
bury, prime minister and secretary of state
for foreign affairs. In the course OF his re-
marks he said, with reference 10 Nene-
xuela:
Il have been held up as the denouncer OF
the Monroe doctrine. AS matter of fact.
although the Monroe doctrine is no part of
international law, my dispatch 10 Mr.. Oh
ney. the secretary of state Of the United
States, supported il as rule of policy in
the strongest and most distinct terms. But
when / stated in that dispatch. and reiter-
ate now. that as rule of policy we are the
entire advocates of the Monroe doctrine,
we mean the Monroe doctrine as President
Monroe understood il. tCheers) In that
sense you viii not find any more convinced
supporters than We are.
Lord Salisbury then turned abruptly to
the Armenian question. and he reproached
the religious communities with laboring
under mistake when they supposed that
England had bound herself in honor TO sue
cor the Armenians. which means TO go 10
war with the sultan. in order TO force him
10 govern the Armenians we'll The Berlin
treaty, Lord Salisbury said, merely bound
the signatory powers that ii the sultan pro-
mulgated certain reforms they would
watch over the execution OF those reforms.
Nothing more iiessid not think any one
could interpret that Ss an understanding 10
go 10 war.
AS TO the Cyprus convention, Lord Sails
bury continued, it contains no trace of an
understanding TO interfere in behalf of the
subjects OF the sultan. Il was concerned
in the drafting of both of these conven-.
tions," said Lord Salisbury, land nothing
would have induced me to pledge my coun-
.t..-
The speaker reminded his hearers that
the reforms which the sultan had recent
ly accepted, although very good reforms,
could not be expected TO produce good
government in two months They require
time to work out" the speaker went on to
say. They would require time in a civil
lied community, and much more so in a
savage and fanaticai community. l hope
they will have q beneficial effect as time
passes"
Lord Salisbury then continued: 'Mean-
time. by spreading among the Turks the
feeling that their dominion was threat
ened. these reforms have unfortunately
led to the preparation of horrors which
can only be compared with the days of
Genghis Khan and Tamerlane. / am
aware that many influential people aver
that this was done by the sultan and his
government with set purposes. My own
opinion is that the sultan's government is
weak, wretched, impotent and poweriesS,
bnt 1t sssa dream TO imagine hs ordered
the perpetration of those cruelties. In my
judgment there is no ground for thinking
so. 1t was race faction and creed faction,
driven to the highest point in the most
corrupt and horrible form, which brought
upon the wretched Armenians these terri
bic sufferings.
''If you mistake why we have not inter-
fered, j can only answer for England that
we could have threatened what l may call
annoyances In the sezng OF the customs
here and there, but when you are dealing
with the rising OF a whole fanatical popu-
lation against population with whom they
have been at bitter enmity for ages, and
who are situated in mountains far removed
from the seashore, you are deceiving your
selves IL you imagine that Englanas arm,
long as it is. could have done anything IN
mitigation. Nothing but military usurpa-
ton could have done x, ana England does
not possess the power of military usurpa-
ton at that distance.
''Mr. Gladstone wrote a letter that Eng
land could cope with five or SIX sultans.
That was most ill-judged and rash obser-
walton. III the sultan would meet US on
the open sea we could cope with five or six
sultans. But II is not worth arguing the
possibility of England occupying these In
accessible provinces.
''T am not bound 10 answer the question
why Europe a-d not interfere. ! say eonfl-
IDENTIFY that none OF the powers wished TO
interfere, and / believe their view is that,
with patience. the sultans prestige, which
is the only power left In the country. viii
ultimately re-esta blish order and allow In
dustry and commerce to take Their usual
serene course. That is their view, and IL
Is our duty 10 give the sultan time. II is
not for me 10 pass Judgment on that view.
but no other remedy has been suggested.
IL Is some encouragement 10 find that al
ready some degree OF order IS being re-
stored. II YOU do not act with the great
powers you must act against them, and
produce calan3ities far more awful and
terrible than the Armenian atrocities.
In conclusion Lord Salisbury referred to
the recent patriotic demonstrations in the
colonies in the face OF threatened foreign
complica tions. and said: Il care not how
much we are isolated IL We are united. An
example has been set which VII shed hene-
ficent light on the latest generations OF
England" As he finished his address and
resumed his seat he was greeted with loud
and prolonged cheers.
Lord Salisbury at the opening OF his
speech referred 20 the recent Transvaal
crisis as throwing a lurid lght upon what
might happen II herne rule were granted 10
Ireland AS soon as the Transvaal was
IN trouble. he pointed out. Il applied 70 for
e.gn powers instead Of England for sup
port.
k>fAZESIENT IN LONDON.