Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-26
TREATY RIGHTS DENIED
Controversy With Turkey Over
Two Armenian Assassins.
TRIED AND CONDEMNED
Claimed to Be Naturalixed Ameri-
cans.
PROTEST AGAINST TREATMENT
Should Have Been Taken Before Con-
sui General Dickinson-Their
Guilt Undoubted.
PROTEST AGAINST TREATMENT
By WILLIAM f.. CURTIS.

BY WILLIAM f. CURTIS.
Written for The Star and the Chicago Record
Herald.
Our government Is just now engaged in
an active controversy with the Sultan OF
Turkey concerning two alleged American
citizens, Armenians from Chicago. who re-
Gently murdered in cold blood Apik Effendi
Oundjian, the richest and most influential
Armenian In Constantinople. a man of the
highest character. Probably no Armenian
hao fireater influence with the Turkish gov
eminent than he and he constantly exer-
cised 1t for the benefit of his people. But
he refused to cooperate with or contribute
money to the revolutionary societies called
the Huntchakist and was. therefore. de-
liberately assassinated as an example TO
other rich Armenians who have taken
similar position.
The assassns are we'll known among
their class In Chicago and It rs believed
that they were sent to Turkey for the ex-
press purpose of killing Apik or, In case OF
failure some other victim of similar prom
inence. The leader was Charles Vartanian,
known in Chicago as "khoilotzi Charley,
after the name of his native village near
Harpoot. He obtained naturalization papers
as minor In Chicago in 1898 and there
is a good deal of doubt as to whether he
was entitled to them. The Department OF
State has no evidence that the naturaliza-
ton was fraudulent but would be greatly
relieved If that could be shown to be the
case. 1t has been alleged that a compari-
son between the date of his birth, the date
of his arrival In Chicago and that OF his
admission to citizenship would prove him
fraud, but these facts are impossible to
obtain.
The other assassin is Horhannes Gohn)
Afarian, known in Chicago Little
John" He was employed for several years
in Jeffrey's bicycle shop and there is no
doubt about his citizenship. 1t is almost
has been comparatively inoffensive. but is
a disciple of Varanian and entirely under
his influence.
Not Accorded Treaty Rights.
There was no doubt about their guilt or
the justice of their punishment Mr.. Leish-
man reports. They were practically detect
ed in the act, arrested and tried in the
Turkish courts. Nartanian was condemned
to death and Afarian was sentenced to fif-
teen years Imprisonment with hard labor.
They appealed to the United States ega-
ton and Minister Leishman, very reluct-
antly. entered a protest against the pro-
ceedings and claimed for them the rights of
American citizens He knows that they
are guilty and is not trying to shield them.
but Is compelled to assert a principle which
the United States has always commended for
and compel the Ottoman government to re-
spect its treaty sttpulattons. Every for
eig1er accused of crime in Turkey has the
right to be tried before his consul, accord
| ing TO the laws of his own country. Hence
yartanian and Afarian upon their arrest
should have been taken before Consul Gem
eral Dickinson instead OF the native courts.
The Turkish government evades this prin-
cipie whenever II Is possible to do and,
| like Russia and several other nations, has
always adhered to the principle that a ma
| tive can never divest himself Of his alieg-
lance to the sultan The sublime porte will
not recognize naturalization papers from
any country. Therefore the United States
| minister has to make fight every time an
American Is arrested.
The Department of State would be glad II
Sartdnidn's papers could be proven fraudu-
| lent. The hospitality of this country has
| been abused in the most shameful manner
| by Armenians-and other people as we'll
| who come over here and take out papers in
I order 10 claim the protection or our le-
| cation when they get into trouble In their
| own countries. 1t Is the practice for an
American legation to accept the the natu-
| raiization certificate of court unless proof
| positive Is presented that 1t was obtained
| fraudulently. Our government does not OBJ
! ject to the execution of Vartanian or the
| imprisonment of Afarfan, but 1t must in
| Sist that the one shall be hung and the
other imprisoned regularly.
There does not seem to be the slightest
doubt that both men are deliberate and
hired assassins representing the terror
chakist Society.
The Armenians In America.
There are about $4,000 Armenlans in the
United States and between 10000 and 10000
voters. The great majority are Industrious.
| lawabiding, valuable citizens who came
here to better themselves, About per
cent revoiutionists and engaged in con-
ttpuous eonspiracies, intrigues and aSsasSt-
| nations and are frowned upon by the over
| whelming majority of their countrymen.
The Armenian National Union of New
| York has 1890 members. all reputable bust
ness men who have their benevolent socie-
| ties and other organizations. They are gen.
| orally engaged in trade. They import rugs.
| wool hides. cigarettes and other products
| of Turkey and export American machinery
| and merchandise TO Armenia. There are
said to be four Armenian miIlionaires in
| New York. New England has an even
| larger number of Armenans generally of
| a different class, however. who are
| pIoyed in the factories. Boston and Wor-
| cester have the largest colonies. There are
| a great many In California also, raising figs
| oranges. raisins and other fruit Last sum-
mer | wrote you account of an Arne-
! MAN colony near Fresno that has been re-
| markably successful.
| The Armenian Massacres
| The Industrious. reputable class of Arme-
| MANS does not belong TO the revolutionary
| societies. They keep out of them not be-
Il
| cause they are loyal to the great Turk. the
| monster who has treated their fellow-coun-
| trymen so cruelty, bat because they regard
| IL as hopeless cause. They realize that
| it is not possible to separate Armenia from
| the Ottoman empire and that revolutionary
/ agitations only aggravate the prosecutions
| Of their friends at home. The appalling
! massacre few years ago was deliberately
| provoked by a band of eonsprator5 In Con-
| stantinople. and when the Rev. DIR. Parker
/ the famous pastor of the City Temple In
| London. came out from behind his pulpit
aud exclaimed In feryid tones. God damn
the Turks some years ago, Ii cost the lives
| of thousands of innocent men, women and
children. who were butchered by Turkish
| soldiers because they belle red in the same
religion that DR.. Parker preached. Every
1 time there Is revolutionary outbreak in
| Armenia the Turks retaliate by the massa-
ere of thousands of innocent people.
Sympathetic Americans contribute money
TO pay the expenses OF these outbreaks
| and support hundreds of worthless Arme-
/ nisn agitators. There are many adyentur-