Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-03-12
TURKISH MINISTER HOT
IN DENIAL OF MASSACRE
Safa hey Declares Arnenians Were
Cause OF Their Own Downfall
by Intrigue.
n,y Arrnclai.h l,rnrr ,

~.
CONSrA NTINOPLE. March 11-,rhc
Turkish Minister Of Foreign Affairs.
Safa Bey, today discussed the Marash
tragedy ana the cilician situation with
the Associated Press. lie emphaticaI-
~ denied there was an organized mas
sacre or Armc mans. but sa Id one or two
hundred noncombatants. Mussulmans
as well as Christians. had been killed
or wounded.
The truth of the statement that
tnere was no organized massacre is
d stini1'. ne continued. "as after the
was re-estabiished and the Armenians
.hrre enjoy the I,u;cctIon OF the very
pi ,.,tsod they attacked with such
. Describes battle
49,, III was not an organized n,ss.crc
rushed "f TO pI ire Gs the tribes which
TIC 1! TO deliver their corrligionists
the he an IhunSn and Armcnians retired to
spforcements. resumed the bomnarG-
men, , OF inc city. which was two-thirds
ntcteI 60 Mussuiman villages sus-
Offenders of Narash We're surrnnn'j.d
~ Arnehians. "nO committed massa
u Ir "''Hont spar;h6 women or chill
since these happenings. the inbabi.
-. ms OF Aiarasn have been surrounJ
ind hive s,,f, on trnn communication
'atioh. Great numbers have died
20 600 " s DC :smsn,2rrcd that os the
trict more than half OF them evac.,.oJ
Win ING French troops, or left the rifv
az so, II Is erroneous TO attribute
! me diminution Of their number To- tbc
J. uTks In order to bring the trnth ~
.iEn. the Ottoman government has
asked that an Investigation be made
Attempt to Arouse intrsS
ore We're To believe the reports
c cnor, T., by Ina!erolent means in an
rope and to influence tho p,.cr en-
ference. 10000 .Armenans were ,nas.n
rr'" ao IN A"atoiia: But there has been
iation In Asia Minor since tnr .rni.
~ ticc H. exrsp: a collision in the region
Safa Bcy read from :. mass o- dis
aiches MS he discussed the SI,rasb
situation. He spoke several times Win
great bitterness. Of the refusal Of ttn
allied ccnsorsn.ps TO nermit Iurl &c
t"i! It's side of the story in the :riJrk
! ,nnn press. whiie permitting the Ar (;
statements unchailenEcd.
t hon Keep nidtr," lie said. ''bu, il is
citrate far into our country. AZ nv
nave ~ Smyran and Marash. and an,
ssm to n in: nnips'''G1 Free and Ine sunni,
ariend themselves under such condi. I
tions So'u'-
H<SpOnHfbte-
according Ia our information ,he
Siasnes TOOK place under the follow /
~, ,1 circumstances: After the British
i i.pUns wr,horr". the French enrolled |
local scndarmcrie patroIs r"rnn,i
exclusively OF Armenians made them
s ei offensive In the Mussulman dis 4
tricts Of Marash and lent Themselves
to all sorts OF violence and crimes
against the Moslcms there and i'm the |
nriEhborins villages.
The French r,nIIti,.at J.,.
i"ss Influenced by the hrmeniaus who
persuaded him that tho TURKS were
aa "out 20 attack the French and mas |
eEnor. the cornInandant of the gen
oarmie,i ne, and other notables. AT the
same tlne ne went to the GOVERNOR
aSSumed control Of the country Moved
oy these extraordinary measures
thc nnmbeIs or Mnssulmans. led hy
governors residence to protest
Mu.snim.na Defended Selves.
These MussuiInans abstained from
nostite manifestations. but apparently,
their intentions were misunderstooj
Tor they were fred upon by the Ar
me mans guarding the residence. The
turkish crowd vas unarmed. but de-
"A little later. Armeu.ans. Civilians
and ,miii,ary attacked the Mussulman
the instinct OF seIf-Drescrva
ton. began firing
lmmediately cannon and machine
guns opened on the Turkish quarters.
many Of which we're consumed by fire
while the MussuIrnans were moved
io~n by hundreds. The fact that the
hEhtinE was exclusively in the Turk
sh quarters proves that the Turks
we're not the assailantS
In the meantime. the news of the
massacre in Marash by the .Armcnians
Reached the country districts. and no.
7ladic kurtls and Arabs rushed TO the
aid OF their corcliGioniSts. In the com
bats which ensued it was inevitable
mat 100 or zoo noncombatanis should