The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1896-01-17
RED CROSS and TURKEY
Mavroyeni Bey Ex plains
the Sultan's Attitude.
Says Miss Barton Presided at Meet.
ings Where His Country and Re.
liGion We're Grossly yAbused-Not ot h.
ing Official To Communicate co
the Society.

Washington, Jan. 15.-Mavroyeni
Bey, the Turkish minister to the United
States, has authorized the publication
of the following statement in regard
to the reported intention of the Red
Cross association; "You ask me-"
said the Turkish minister. what ]
have to say about the statement that
the Red Cross society has decided not
to pay any attention to the commune
cation, published yesterday, until it is
officially transmitted to it by the
Turkish government or the Turkish
minister My answer is very simple,
and it is the following: The Red Cross
1as never communicated with this
legation. 1t has only communicated,
to my knowledge, with the press and
the public, its president, Miss Clara
Barton, assisting, without protest, at
public meetings where the most gross
and unjust abuse was made of the
Turkish government, religion and race.
AS the Red Cross or any of its repre-
sentatives never visited this legation,
it is clear and logical that this legation
has nothing to communicate to said
munication to the press, because it is
the public that the Red Cross took into
its confidence. But, naturally, l will
always be ready and pleased to give to
the Red Cross society any explanation
it may think proper to ask for.
"A Question Of Rigs"
''The whole question" added the
.cfn of -. SI1Tl.
pose for one moment that your
own Indians were to revolt against
your legitimate authority. Suppose
that in some foreign country some
foreigners were to calumniate publicly
your civilization, your race and your
religion. Not satisfied with that suppose
that these foreigners, on the strength
of such false accusations were to raise
money and bring it for distribution,
through their own channels, 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 from foreigners, he
welcome to this great country of yours,
however welcome it might be, for obvi.
Gus reasons, to your Indians? AS you
see. this whole question is a very clear
one. But, | wish you at the same time
to understand that-even to-day, not
withstanding the contrary 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
l. fell ;%ry
Miss Barton's Reply.
Miss Clara Barton, president of the
American National Red Cross society,
after consideration of the emanations
of the Turkish government through
its legation here, said to representa-
tive of the United Press last evening:
"As is the well-known custom of the
Red Cross we had no part in the rails
ing of money. We were simply asked
to take and distribute Americas fund.
We have from the first given no ex-
preston of opinion, either public or
private, which, in accordance with the
neutral principles of the Red Cross,
we never could nor desired to do. A
careful perusal of the context of the
Turkish ambassadors statement will
show that the Turkish government is
not antagonistic to the Red Cross as
such, which it recognizes as part of
its own treaty relations, and for which,
in it's statement, it publicly expresses
its respect, but objects to the distribu-
tion of foreign relief on entirely differ
ent grounds, neither in its power or
ours to control. We also desire to add
that any publication to the effect that
the Red Cross is aggressive in the mat
ter and intends to act in spite of au-
thority or cooperation is entirely in
correct"