New-York tribune., 1896-01-07
DIFFICULTIES BEFORE MISS BARTON.
POINTS THAT SHOULD BE SETTLED BEFORE THE
RED GROSS WORKERS. START


POINTS THAT SHOULD BE SETTLED BEFORE THE
RED CROSS WORKERS START.
TO the Editor Of The Tribune
Sir: Is K at all likely that Mss Barton Will be p@r.
mitted to enter Turkey with her Red Cross and her
relief? Is not this improbabiity the real reason for
the delay In raising funds FOR the suffering Arme-
mans? Even II she changes her red cross TO e. red
crescent she proposes. will this in the least miti-
the difficulty? 1t is said ihat the Sultan, by
signing the Red Cross covenant. with the na lions OF
Chrlstendom. has pledged himself 10 protect its
agents and promote their work n this were true.
the pledges OF the Sultan wholly without value
In any matters affecting his Armenian c'hristian
subjects This is overwhe emingly proved by the
very suferngs which we seeking TO relieve.
There would he such suffer.ngs II the Sultan
keeping his most solemn pledges to his own
people and TO Engl and and the other Powers The
aud starvation in Armenia are entirely
the work Of the Turkish Government, and I, wishes
10 increase the suHerings and eXterminat. the Ar
menians VIII +, allow Miss Barton to undo or re-
tard what it Is determined to do?
But has the Sultan given any such pledges? He
signed the Geneva Convention OF 1864, which con-
Germs itself only with international war. and says
nothing about such desttution as now prevails In
Armenia. "Ambuiances Il. e, flying hospltals) and
military hospitals shall be regarded neutral ana
a. such protected and respected by the belgerents
as long they shall be occupied by sick or
their supplies shall have Ike protection In like
circumstances Neutrality shall cease II the am
bulance or hospital shall be guarded by a military
force" There Is nothing in this treaty to protect
Miss Barton She proposes to go into the Sutan's
own domn,ons. In the absence Of war. 10 reiieVs
suffering which the Government IL intent on con-
tlnualy increasing. Armenia Is ~ miles east OF
Constantinople in u mountainous country run Oh
obstacles without roads and swarming with rob-
bers II she were permitted 10 enter CONSTANT
nople she could not go ten miles beyond 1t without
a strong military guard. and there Is no one 10
furnish it but the Sultan himself Ought not ths
vital matter Il be- settled before she starts? And
II II were satisfactorily settled, would not the needed
funds be speedily given?
The United Press correspondent at ConstintlnopN
IL evidently an intelligent. capable and indus'rious
man. We sl owe him many thanks for MS trust
worthy and pertinent. Information, CORRECTING as u
soe. the lying dispatches which the sultan agents
,u,. send ont Ills kilograms In your estimaoie
Journal Of this morning throw no uncertain nsht
u,on the single point am now considering. Al
rrz4roum. the rut!ans rob the people OF The food
and clothing received In charity At Harpoot thers
is no food no clothing, no money, nine-tenths OF
the ueople are clothed in rags, and all AID from
without is conducted under the most trying DIM
rulfv AT Mardin the missionaries have nttle
n,nn.v hut any one seeking to reach the village
With relief would be robbed and killed. At sivas
The missionaries doing what theE can Dut no
one Without strong guard can go into the villages
as vet and the Turkish Government VIII no. iurnisH
such guards for RELIEF WORK uh'ess co"pe'eu !"
Cannot Minister Terrell or the United Press agent
as ertain whether the miniserrS angel OF the hed
Cross will have access 70 the staring anu mak aksm a.
Christians in Armenia. that they may speedhy ny
has rendered many noble services Can II not ieaa
now I'm opening an assured way for ample reliel:
God pity poor Armenia Is there no way 70 MOSS ssSs
from annihilation! i'EM r'' "O'S'
Woodbury., y. j., Jan. T.. 1896.