New-York tribune., 1896-01-15
TURKEY AND THE RED cross.
MISS CLARA BARTON STATES TIE ATTl
TUDE OF THE SOCIETY.

REPORTS THAT IT INTENDS TO act WITHOUT
AUTHORIZATIONS OR co-opE2ATioH DENIED
GREAT INDIGNATION EXrHEssED At TIE
COURSE OF THE PonTE-A STATE
MEHr nY THE TURKISH MINISTER.
Washineton Jan ll-Miss clara Barton. prcs-
dent Of the American National Rel Cross Society
after considering the cmanations from the Turkish
Government. ttrouga It's Legation here. snid 20
representative OF tn United Press tins evening:
The movcmeat for Armenian relief did not oi.g-
mate with the RED Cross. The first elpcas tor the
Red Cross 10 act came from the missionary h'ArLs
Of Cons'antinople ana Tsr brought t. u 'ro,9 & ,hc
,rey5cs In Armenia To- those and othcr bodies. ~
well as representative citizens We made iwo con-
ditOns First, that the request be unanimous rom
uslous sectaran or other differences. IN order that
there should b. perfect harmony OF action .rconi
that a sum Of money sufficient 70 10 credit and
honor TO the United states and adequate - the re-
lief desired should be placed a, our disposal 10
distribute II wAs decided that tne first condition
that O, unanim.ty. WAS more inhn complied VIII
and December a the Red eros, accepted thr
trust reasonable assurance That IN" second pro
viso would be met
on January ne rnarente@ Of funds %as %slass
previously corresponded by cable WIN me ~
that it had no objection 10 our arccpiance oi n
we had no option left us but to consent 10 set sal
within two weeks the time named by the commit,
~lns VIII 10 u.s. 49, NS~ -, VII Known cstonn of the
Red Cross we had no part IN the raising oi money
We simply asked to take and distribute Amer
We have from the first gwen no expression Of
opinion either public private. whicn. in dccor1
ance an a %n 'Ho cog hg"'ai por dnsrrG 20 do On jan
uary lS statement reachei heafquarier' that ne
any distribution among it, subjects In its own ter
ritory by foreign society or individuals, however
respectable the same may be 'aS ioi ihsiance thr
Red Cross Society, OF money collected abroad. \
careful perusl Of he context OF IA" statement ~i
show that The Turkish Govcrnm.ni is not an,ag".
nstic the Red cross such which il rcosniZcs
IN its statement II publicly cNpitsset Us TtsIr but
objects 10 the distribution o. foreign relei IN en-
tlrely different grounds neither in It's power nor
We also desire to adj that pubc1tioe to the
corporation Is entirely incorrect. and that any
degree is not Official and has not been made nor
susgested even in spirit, by any oiicrr or member
OF the Rcd Cross
WHAT CAN THE GOV EKNMtNT %?
The action OF The Turkish Government in shutting
out the Red Cross Society from that country and
preventing assistance from reaching the Armoniaus
has caused much unfavorablc comment 1T the
Capitol. Members Of the Foreign Relations COM
rttee Of the Senate are not inclined TO discuss the
matter publicly. but privately express Their sur
Prise anI Indignation at the conGuc; of n govern
rnent which thus shuts ID" door IN The face Of an
organization recognized by the whole world ls one
inteAdcl 70 relieve the msefieS oi mankinH ana
Mir Gull m, C al m a Of he subcommittee having
the Armenian questions IN charSr. si.d t.s morning
ina; he G,d not vhal tbs Government could
DO IN tha premises. much - he dcplorci II. II the
Turkish Government took ms *irp, ne MS not
aware Of any way through which this Govern
mcnt could efccualiy protest. The action 80 far
taken appears that e the accredited Minister 10
The United States ans ihe commliicr $ not In
clined 10 accept 1t as final until Instructions come
from Cons,antinople itself ,,,.,..
Tinted States this afternoon authorized the pub
lcatlon Of the following statement IN regard 10 the
You ask me- sad the Turkish Minister, what
have TO say about the statcmcnt mat me sed CrCss
Society has decided not TO pay any attention 70 Ia"
Communication unii II is officially transmitted 10 Il
by the Turkish Government or IN, turkish ks MniI,~r
The Red Cross has never comnunlcatHh WIN th's
Legation 1t has only G romRgncte ,S 70 ., my knp%
Miss Cara Barton. ASSISTING without protest. al
abuse vas made Of the Turkish government. re-
iiigiIon and race. As the Red Cross or any Of is
Gear and Logical that this Legation has nothing
to Communicate 50 said society This Legation sent
nub!,c that the Rcd Croys took into its confidence
But naturay WI ro sTsy be ready and Peagea
ThSs h{S ',n whp,e ncst.on. added the Minister 's
o,,es,,on ~ rleht suppose. for one moment that
vour own Indians were to revolt against your egiti-
2nnte authority Suppose that you put down their re-
v"it ard suppos. that in foreign country some
f5rejgners were calumnate publicly your cv!liZa-
Ion your and your religion Not satisfied WIN
~. suppose that those foreigners. on the strength
OF such fal-c usatons; were l? Tai-e morey ana
bring /. for distribution, through ther own channels
however respectable the latter inay De 10 NE very
people that rsvocd against your government
lion. would even n moral aid from foreigners. be
welcome to this great country OF yours, however
indians? A. YOU see. this whole question - a veIy
clear one. But, wish you at ~ same Tine 10
contrary assurances Of Interested parties the Iuf-
kish Government has no anos ~ha,fycr asansI
under its legitimate and rightful authority.