Omaha daily bee., 1908-07-31
Consul General Says it Affects $4,000
Armenians in United States.
MANY ARE EXPECTED TO RETURN
Action Believed to Mark New Era in
Turkish History,
UNREST m CoNsTANTNoPLE
Delay In RecOnstructing the Cabinet
Causes Dissatisfaction - MIN
lister of Mines and
Forests FIces.


NEW YORK. July So-The sultan Of
Turkey. through the Turkish consul general
in this city. Mundji Bey today proclaimed
general amnesty to all political fugitives,
regardless Of race, in this country. This
relates to about 50,OoO Armenians and 9TH
ers in the United States
Referring further TO amnesty, the Turk
ish consul general MundB Bey, said: "The
amnesty applies to political, not criminal
refugees. 1 am sure that those who have
offended politically and have sought an
asylum in this country will not return and
help in the work of constructing united
nation Turkey will now be as free as the
United states. Shortly, If I mistake not.
there will be a Turkish ambassador at
Washington Our aim win be to maintain
the United States. as indicated as nat
ural, since the condition of citizens of this
country will be our ideal for citizenship
in Turkey.
"The proclamation is made In good faith
and there will be no repetition of the
czars fiasco in regard TO the Russian
duma. Turkey will now take It's former
place with the nations OF the world"
Many Turks TO Return.
Tho consul general said he would he sur
prised If at least 100000 Turkish subjects
did not return to their native land within
the next month or so. OF the fifty thous-
and Armenians. syrians and the like In
this country, he estimated that five thous-
and at least would depart within a very
short time. OF Turkish refugees he said
there were none here but a large colony
had settled in Providence, r. l.
The proclamation and its results were
freely discussed in the Armenian and syr-
ian quarters of the city after the statement
of the consul general was made known,
Mihram Bohlegian, an authority amon3
the Armenians, said:
II feel absolutely certain that the sultan
is acting in good faith and trust implicitly
in the proclamation. The Armenians have
suffered much, but not at the hands of the
Turk The former or at least a very largo
number of them, will take early advantage
Of the opportunity to go home without fear
of further persecution"
Bella Ararat an Armenian merchant,
said he was inclined to believe that most
Armenians would accept the proclamation
in good faith. He said he had suffered a
great deal at the hands of the Moslem
bigots and had been obliged to flee from
Turkey after several members of the fam
lily had been killed. lie stated that he had
! possessed a good deal OF property in Tur-
key by inheritance, but had never gone
back to inquire about IT because of the fate
that might possibly l-fall him.
SyrInns Are PIenaed.
| F. NJ. Faddol. a Syrian jeweler said:
1--WE Syrians Of course are greatly pleased
| at what his majesty the sultan has done.
! However, we Syrians in this country, with
few exceptions, are not political refugees.
THE Armenian is political refugee
where the Syrian is not. The Armenian
had te flee in terror OF his life. The
! Syrian has come to America because his
conditions OF life, business and industry
there do not offer the possibility for prog
ress as America does. The advance in tho
cause of freedom may mean a new era for
Syria. I should suppose that the Armen-
ians would be most deeply affected by the
proclamation. 1t has been the people OF
that race whom the Turkish authorities
have watched closest for political plots"
Unrest in ConstantinODIe.
CONsTANTINOPLE, July SO.-Although
| the demonstrations in the streets of Con-
stantinople over the granting OF a constitu-
tion have practically ceased, there are signs
of much dissatisfaction among the public
at the delay in the reconstruction of the
ministry by the introduction of liberal
elements. Scenes Of the widest description
continue in the cafes, where officers and
| civilians embrace each other and express
their delight at the ending Of the tyran-
nical regime.
The situation still lacks clearness. and It
is impossible at present to forecast the
next development with any degree Of cer-
tainty. The young Turks are masters OF
Constantinople and the European provinces.
and except IN the capital the feeling is any
thing but favorable to the sultan. oven in
Constantinople disloyal cries were heard
during the recent street demonstrations.
At a banquet given in seres TO celebrate
the re-estabIshment OF the constitution
the name Of the sultan was hooted, while
the Christians at this place are beginning
to entertain mlsgivings as TO the sincerity
Of the professions OF the young Turks.
Hardly any news has been received from
! the Asiatic provinces and this is regarded
as disquieting. The vail and the military
commandant at Smyrna have been dis
missed by the young Turks, owing to theii
hostile attitude towards the constitution.
students Held by TrOOPs.
noteworthy incident in the popular
manifestations Of last Sunday which Al
. the time escaped notice, is the fact that III,
, military college was surrounded by troopI
in order TO prevent the students from leav
p ing that institution. The people manifested
their resentment at this precaution where
upon the troops were Withdrawn and thu
p students moved about freely.
The only incident OF today has been
noisy demonstration OF artillery officer
and soldiers at the porte, where the mel
. gathered together apparently clamorinI
5 for promotion. As a matter OF fact, IN
' object Of this demonstration was hostility
towards ZelId Pasha. grandmother OF IN
artillery, whose withdrawal was demanded
: Zekd Pasha was hooted while going 70 IN
porte by the large crowds assembled there
a Two hundred army officers have arrive'
at Adrianople from saloniki 10 replace IN
incapable and doubtful officers Of the sec
ond army corps
l. One OmeIaI FIees Country.
a IL has become known that Geitra Mel