Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-10-27
7 H E SULTAN SPEAKS
Tells Americans About the Armenian Mas
Sacres.
An Interview With the Ruler of Tur-
Terrell-Turks Are Tolerant.

IAN interview with the Sultan" is con-
| tributed to the November Century by ex-
Minister Terrell. He says:
The sultan said that the facts about
recent disturbances in Turkey have never
Teen faithfully reported by the press of
| the United States, and that he hoped that
l would make known to the American peo-
pie what he was then about to say. Con-
! tinuing, he said:
EARLY during the Ottoman conquests In
Asia Minor the Armenians, who were be-
ing crushed by repeated invasons of the
Tartars and the Persians. emigrated in
large numbers and obtained protection
from the Ottoman rulers. They were kind
ly received, Hospitality treated. and re-
ceived benefits in the protection OF their
lives and property. No nation continually
engaged in war can excel in Industrial and
commercial pursuits Thus 1t occurred
that while the early sutans were busy
with conquests all manufacturing and
commercial interests were monopolized by
Christian races, and chiefly by the Ar
meniars Their religion was also tolerated,
for MusSumans tolerate the religion of
all men who worship God. Thus the Ar
menians prospered and remained contented
under Mussulman rule for over four hum
cred years. They became the manufac-
turers, contractors and bankers of the OF
toman empire. They enjoyed their reli-
gion, openly worshiped for centuries in
their ancient churches and monasteries,
and built new ones when needed. Their
patriarch could always present their COM
plants at the sublime porte and they were
always protected in the enjoyment of their
own methods of worshiping God.
-FOUR books are regarded as sacred by
all Mussulmans, namely, the Koran the
book OF Confucius, the Talmud of the
Jews, and the Bible of the Christians.
How could Mussulman murder Armen-
lsinS merely on account of their religion
when the Koran prohibits cruelty and re-
cures that all men who believe in God
snail be protected except during war?
one of my ancestors, Selim I, the grand
son or the conquerOr of Ccnstantinople
cnc@ thought that his empire would be
stronger II all his subjects professed the
same religion. Some disturbances raised
by Christian races caused him to ask the
Sheik-ul-Islam if it would be lawful for
him to kill all Christians who refused to
be converted to Islam. The sheik issued a
IetVa' IN which he answered that it would
not be lawful. and that Christians who
were peaceful must be protected So
Seiim respected the fetva. Fire Worship
ers ana 1doiaters alone have no right to
protection and Mussulmans are prohibited
from eating meat cooked by such people"
Inc sultan then cited many evidences of
the favor and Partially extended to, and
ci the confidence reposed in, the Armen-
iahs by himself and by former sultans to
SHOW that their religion was not the cause
OF their recent misfortunes.
The sultan more than once repeated his
declaration that no Christians had ever
pcen prosecuted by his government or peo-
pie for their religious faith, and that their
churches and monasteries. which have
STOOD from the early ages of Christianity
had been respected, preserved and wor-
SHIPPED in: that they had always selected
their own patriarchs and bishops and were
always protected in the full enjoyment of
their religious freedom.
Referring to the massacres he said: 1.-THE
truth. unfortuna tely, is never published in
Christian newspapers about conflicts be-
tween my Moslem and Christian subjects
Though TO true Mussuman will ever pun
lsh any man on account of his religion, If
he Worships God, yet when people bind
themselves together by their religion and
then use it to destroy the Ottoman en-
| pire q different question is presented.
| While Christian Europe was excited
against the Ottoman empire about excuses
committed by its soldiers during the Greek
! revolution of 1927, it had no sympathy to
| bestow upon the butchery of 1900 de-
| fenseless Turkish men, women and children
| who were massacred In one city after its
surrender"
The sultan is over fifty years old. of
| medium height, with clear olive complex
| ion. dark hair, high forehead and large
dark-brown eyes. The habitual expression
of his face is one of extreme sadness.
Though the pashas who attend his palace
when ministers or ambassadors are enter
tanned are decorated with regal splendor,
| he always appears in plain garb. wearing
Iet ltL, d lTock coat ana trousers OF
dark-biue stuff, and patent leather shoes.
A broad service-sword with steel scabbard,
which he holds sheathed in his hand COM
pletes the costume. Sometimes a single
decoration Is worn on his breast. When
he Is seen thus plainly attired in the throne
room of his palace, on the first day of the
least OF Bairam. seated on an ottoman
covered with cloth of gold to receive the
CONGRATULATIONS of his civil and military
chiefs who are all radiant in uniforms
and decorations. the contrast is very strik-
ing No Christians but those of the dipo-
matte corps ever witness this impressive
ceremony, which is conducted with the or
der that distinguishes a military review,
but with an oriental servility that an
American finds it difficult to understand
on such occasions Osman Pasha stands
at the sultan's left, holding cloth-of- gold
scarf, which all reverently kiss after sa-
luting their ruler.
No sovereign in Europe is more courtly
| or refined in entertaining his guests, and
few can be more agreeable in CONVERSE
ton. In his personal intercourse with for
eisn representatives he is alike free from
that stilted dignity which repels confidence,
and from that absence of real dignity
which invites familiarity.
When l first dined at the palace the sui
tan sat at the head of the table, with Mrs.
Terrell at his right and myself at his left
Osman Pasha, Ismael Pasha, the former
khedive of Egypt. the grand vizier and
other ministers of state were the other
guests.
Nothing could excel the excellence of the
cuisine OF which he partook with his
guests, the table service and decorat ions
the magnificence of the dining room or
the excellence of his Wines which always
remain untasted except by Christian
s s;s Each pasha wore the insignia of
MS rank, blazing with stars and decora-
IONS, while the plain costume of the sui-
tan was alone In harmony with my own.
NO armed men stood guard at the palace
doors, and except detail from the Imne
rial Guard. who always salute a foreign
representative on his arrival, no soldiers
ace walls on any of the occasions wba nj
have dined there. ~
w. c. T. U. RESOLUTIONS.