Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-01-15
THE RED CROSS
Explains Its Position Concern
ing the Armenian Relief.
Was Asked to Distribute Americas
Fund--WilI Not Act Hastily.
MavrOyeni BeY Tells Why Sultan Objects Ia
the Soceiys Work.

| Washington, Jan. 14-Miss Clara Bar
ton. president Of the American Nationa
hed Cross Society, after consideration Of
the enuEciations of the Turkish govern
| hnent through its legation here, said, this
evening;
he movement of the Armenian RELIEF
did not originate with the Red Gross
The first appeals Tor the Red Cross to act
came from the missionary boards Of Con
stantinoplo and were brought to IL from
various committees Of this country. ask
ing that the Red Gross consent 10 dis
tribute the relief from Of America in
| Armenia. 10 these and otheir bodies, as
well as representative citizens, We made
two conditions:
FIRST, that the request b. unanimous
from the people Of the entire country re
gardless of religion, sectarian or other
differences: in order tina. there should be
perfect harmony of action.
Second, that "A sum Of money sulii-
cient 10 do credit and honor to the United
States and adequate 10 the relief desired.
should be placed at our disposal TO dis
tribute.
= ID was decided that the first condition.
that OF unapimity, was more than com
piled with, and, Dec a. the Bed Cross
accepted the trust on reasonable assurance
that the second proviso would be met.
Jan 9. guarantee of funds vas assured
by the national committee as we had pre-
vionsly corresponded by cable with the
international committee Of Geneva. the
official head of all the Red Cross treaty
nations, and learned that il had no oh
lectlons to our acceptance Of the trust
: As all the conditions were thus com
piled with, we had no option left Us but
To consent to set sail within two weeks,
the time named by the committee, which.
As duty, we were perfectly ready and
willing to do, however hazardous and
ptiisss the task before us
As is the well known custom Of the
Red Cross, we had no part in the raising
Of money. We were simply asked to take
and distribute Americas funds. We have
from the first given no expression of
opinion, either public or private, which.
IN accordance with the neutral principles
Of the Red Gross, we never could nor de
STREET to do.
Jan. 13 statement reached head
quarters that the imperial government CT
Turkey would not permit any distribu-
bitil aHtuS MS SUBJECTS IN MS own Terri
tory by any foreign society and individ
uals however respectable the same may
BE. las, for instance, the Red Cross So
ciety). of money collected abroad
\ careful perusal Of the context Of the
statement will show that the Turkish
government is not antagonistic to the Red
Cross, as sucd, which it recognizes as a
part Of its own treaty relations. and for
which, in its statement it publicly ex-
presses Its respect, hut objects to the dis
trioution of foreign relief on entirely
different grounds, neither in its power or
ours to control.
We desire to add that any publication
to the effect that the Red Cross is aggres-
sive in the matter and intending to act in
spite of authority or corporation, is en-
tirey incorrect and any statement con
veying that meaning IN the slightest de-
gree is not official and has not been made
nor suggested even in spirit by any officer
or member Of the Red Cross