The Wichita daily eagle., 1904-04-08
TO PROCURE TREATY
This Government Made Slow
Progress with Sultan
RETURNING ARMENIANS
Their Position Has Been Made
Uncomfortable.

Washington, April During it's brief
q roubie with Turkey last summer, atten-
tfcn was called to the abortive efforts of
this goyernme mt to procure new treaty,
more explicitly guaranteeing the rights of
paturalized citizens of the United States
of Turkish origin returning to their own
country and also those of native Amer
leans in Turkey engaged in missionary
work. The prediction was made that as
soon as the acute crisis at Beirut had
passed. steps would be taken towards the
negotiation of a new general treaty.
,Oficers of the state department gave
this subject some thought, but finally con-
Cluded that ii was best to move in the
matter at the present time especially
since there was no suggestion from Tur-
key Of any disposition to do So The feel
ing in Administration circles is that while
IT is so difficult to keep the Turkish gov
ernment up to its present obligations it
would be useless to try to induce it to
promise more. 1t is also true that we are
getting along with Turkey without much
real trouble, by an alternating process
of bullying and begging; and. while there
in the long run our government obtains
substantial justice. At all events, the
situation is so fun of complications that
it has been considered best to trust TO the
present policy rather than attempt any
sweeping changes or any radically new
program. The completion of any treaty
with Turkey would be a very slow mat
ter. Our senate would probably amend it,
and thus give the Turks a chance for
more delay, and probably an opportunity
to refuse adherence to the amended in
strument.
For thirty-five years the position of
: Armenians who have become naturalized
citizens of the United States, on return
ing to Turkey for any reason has been
made so uncomfortable as to arouse
great deal of sympathy in their behalf.
American naturalization papers are
worthless to these Armenians, and the
American passports are literally trodden
under foot by the Turkish functionaries.
This is said to have been the treatment
even of naturalized Armenians who have
returned to Turkey for q strictly tenn
porary sojourn, in good faith, to close
up estates or transact other Legitimate
business.
During our civil war il number Of the
former subjects of the Sultan served in
the Union army. On obtaining citizen
ship at the close of their term of service.
they went back to Turkey, and by their
presence there drew the attention of both
countries to the need of more explicit
treaty .stpulations. In 1874 George Fl.
Booker our minister. negotiated a treaty
along the lines of the Bancroft treaty
- Germany. But disa greements arose
20 the treatment which should be ac-
c5rded to a small number of naturalized
American citizens who, before the nego-
tiation had returned and established
bona fide domiciIe in Turkey, at a time
when the Turkish government made no
objection Other negotiations followed.
until in 1886 S. S. Cox, while minister to
Turkey. completed very satisfactory
treaty; but its ratification was defeated
i'm the United States senate because of the
protest of a mere handful of these ex-
union soldiers who We're residing in Con-
stantinople and insisted on being except
ed from its general provisions.
In spite of repeated efforts, treaty
has been drawn since that time. The
United States does not ask any other
country to regard out naturalization pa
pers as effective where a Subject of that
country returns to his old home for the
purpose of permanent residence. But the
feeling has been general that Turkey
should show more respect for our natural
ization papers when carried by Armenians
who go back there for temporary bust
ness purposes. Two years has often
been our limit during which naturalized
citizen must decide whether he as TO re-
turn to this country or to resume the
citizenship he had proposed TO renounee-
N. Y. Evening Post.