The record-union., 1896-09-25
Ex-Premier Gladstone the Principal
Speaker.
He Declares That Great Britain Has a
Just Right to Coerce Turkey, and
That the First Step Must be the
Recall of the British Embas SadOr
to ConstantinopIe and the Dis
missal of the Turkish ambassador
to London.
to London.

LIVERPOOL, Sept. 24.-Four thou
sand persons were present at the mass
meeting held under the auspices of the
Liverpool Reform Club to protest
against the rule of the Sultan of Turkey
and the massacreS of ArmenianS in the
Turkish Empire. The gathering in
cluded well-known men of all political
parties, and the audience which greeted
Mr. Gladstone, who was the principal
speaker, was a most enthusiastic one.
The meeting was presided over by the
Earl of Derby. Mr.. Gladstone was in
excellent health and voice, and was
noticeably active in his movements.
Prefacing his address, Mr.. Gladstone
proposed a resolution that the meeting
trusted that the Government realized
the terrible condition in which their
fellowChristians in Turkey were
placed, and that they would do every
thing possible to obtain for them a
full measure of security and protection.
The resolution also declared that the
Government would have the fullest pub
lie support in whatever steps they
might take to put a stop to the atroci-
ties which were being committed in Tur-
key.
Mr.. Gladstone, as he stepped forward
to begin his remarks, was cheered for
many minutes. He said:
THE resolution which I have pro-
posed observes the rules of prudence,
and does not require even for the sake
of great end that we place ourselves
in a state of war with united Europe
Continuing, he ridiculed the idea that
a state of war would be the result or
consequence of England's acting alone
in giving an ultimatum to the Porte. He
would not be the one to plunge England
into war, but England would not make
of herself a slave to be dragged by the
chariot wheels of the other Powers of
Europe. (Cheers.)
England he said had a just right
to coerce Turkey, and the first step must
be the recall of our ambassador from
Constantinople, and the consequent dis
nissal of the Turkish ambassador in
London. loud and prolonged cheers.
That would not cause a European war.
(Cheers and laughter) England could
then tell the Porte that she meant to
consider means of enforcing her own
just demands We should declare that
we would not turn any ensuing war to
rope is an august and useful instru-
pent, but it has not usually succeeded
in dealing with the Eastern question,
which has arrived at a period when it
is necessary to strengthen the hands of
the Government by an expression of ma
! tional opinion.
Il believe that the continued presence
Of the ambassadors at Constantinople
L, -
the Sultan, who is thus the recognized
ally But while urging the Government
to act 1t does not follow that even for
| the sake of the great object in view that
Great Britain should be dragged into
war. On the other hand, however l
deny that England must abandon her
own right to independent judgment, and
allow herself to be domineered by the
other Powers" (Cheers.)
Mr.. Gladstone said the Turkish Gov
errment in 1876 denied that massacres
had occurred, but that those massacreS
had since passed into history as facts.
The same system of denials is practiced
now, and will be practiced SO long as
the Powers of Europe shall tolerate it.
1t is to be hoped, Mr.. Gladstone de-
clared, that the weakness of diplomacy
would be strengthened by this strong
nation's voice. The diplomatic repre-
scntatives in Constantinople of six great
Powers, after the massacres in the
Turkish Capital, brought their courage
to the sticking point and addressed a
note to the Sultan informing his maj
esty that the atrocities must cease, or
that otherwise prejudice would be Gre
ated against the Turkish Government.
CT L
what would the guilty author of these
! rnassacres want more than to confne
the matter to a paper WARP" Cloud
cheers)
Mr. Gladstone said that six great
Powers of Europe represented at Con-
stantinople had failed to make the Sui
tan fulfill his treaty obligations. The
continuation of diplomatic relations
with the Sultan had not prevented the
massacres at Constantinople, but had
permitted the Sultan to remain the rec
ognizad ally of Great Britain.
Mr. Gladstone in the course of his pc
roration said. Let US extract ourselves
from our present ambiguous position.
Let US renounce our neutrality. Let us
be really promising her majesty's Min
listers our ungrudging and enthusiastic
support, induce them by word and deed
to show their detestation of acts which
may even yet come to such a depth Of
atrocity as has never yet been recorded
in the deplorable history of human
crime" cloud and prolonged cheers)
Mr.. Gladstone's voice remained strong
and clear to the end.
FAVORS DECISIVE ACTION.
ST. PETERSBURG, Sept. 24.-In a
restrained and dignified article on the
Armenian question the Russia Ga
zette" urges in the interests of Euro
pran peace and upon principles of hui
manity a rapproachment between Rus
sia and Great Britain. 1t declines to in
dcrse the suggestion that England ar
ranged the massacre in her own inter-
est, and declares that it believes that the
sympathy of the Powers is on her side.
1t is in favor of decisive pressure being
brought to bear on the Porte, to whose
faulty Government is largely due the
dark side of recent events.
The Gazette" adds: "Strict watchful-
ness Of the interests of Russia in the