Turks were killed. Between three and four hundred Armenian gen were picked up after the fight, and reports that about that numb of Armenians were killed. I give credit to his statement.' "The other dispatch referred to is dated December 2, 1894, and is as follows: "Information from British ambassador indicates far more loss of lives in Armenia, attended with atrocities, than stated in my telegram of 28th.' "I have received absolutely no information concerning any cruelties committed upon citizens who have declared their intention to become naturalized in this country' or upon any persons who had a right to claim or have claimed for any reason the protection of the United States government. "In the absence of such authentic detailed knowledge on the subject as would justify our interference, no expostulations have been addressed by this government to the government of Turkey in regard to such matters.' "The last inquiry contained in the resolution of the Senate touching these alleged cruelties seeks information concerning any pro posals made by or to this Government to act in concert with other Christian powers regarding the same.' "The first proposal of the kind referred to was made by the Turkish government, through our minister, on the 30th day of November, when the Sultan expressed a desire that a consul of the United States be sent with a Turkish commission to investigate these alleged atrocities on Armenians. This was construed as an invitation on the part of the Turkish government to actually take part with a Turkish commission in an investigation of these affairs and any report to be made thereon, and the proposition came before our minister's second dis patch was received, and at a time when the best information in the possession of our government was derived from its first report, indicating that the statements made in the press were sensational and exaggerated, and that the atrocities alleged really did not exist. This condition very much weakened any motive for an interference based on considerations of humanity, and permitted us, without embarrassment, to pursue a course plainly marked out by other controlling incidents. "By a treaty entered into at Berlin in the year 1878, between Turkey and various other governments, Turkey undertook to guarantee protection to the Armenians, and agreed that it would 'periodically make known the steps taken to this effect to the powers, who will superintend their application.' "Our government was not a party to this treaty, and it is entirely obvious that, in the face of the provisions of such treaty above recited, our interference in the proposed investigation, especially without the invitation of any of the powers which had assumed by treaty obligations to secure the protection of these Armenians, might have been exceedingly embarrassing, if not entirely beyond the limits of justification or propriety. "The Turkish invitation to join the investigation set on foot by that government was, therefore, on the 2d day of December, declined. On the same day, and after this declination had been sent, our minister at Constantinople forwarded his second dispatch, tending to modify his former report as to the extent and character of Armenian slaughter. At the same time the request of the Sultan for our participation in the investigation was repeated, and Great Britain, one of the powers which joined in the treaty of Berlin, made a like request. "In view of changed conditions, and upon reconsideration of the subject, it was determined to send Mr. Jewett, our consul at Sivas, to the scene of the alleged outrages, not for the purpose of joining with any other government in an investigation and report, but to the end that he might be able to inform this government as to the exact truth. "Instructions to this effect were sent to Mr. Jewett, and it is supposed he has already entered upon the duty assigned him." President Cleveland, message to the Senate, Dec. 11, 1894, S. Ex. Doc. 11, Art. LXI. of the Treaty of Berlin, referred to in the message, provides: The Turkish government, when advised of the intention of the United States to send Mr. Jewett as an independent investigator, and not as a member of the Turkish commission, objected on the ground that if this privilege should be granted to the United States it would be claimed by the parties to the treaty of Berlin, and the investigation would thus assume a European character. Permission to Mr. Jewett to go in an independent capacity having been refused, it was decided not to press the matter further. For. Rel. 1894, 723, 725. December 19, 1895, President Cleveland communicated to the Senate, with a special message, a report of Mr. Olney, Secretary of State, on the condition of affairs in Asiatic Turkey. He referred to the failure, mentioned in his annual message of December 3, 1895, of the proposal of the United States for an independent investigation on its part of the occurrences at Sassoun in August, 1894. The facts Turks were killed. Between three and four hundred Armenian guns were picked up after the fight, and reports that about that number of Armenians were killed. I give credit to his statement.' "The other dispatch referred to is dated December 2, 1894, and is as follows: "Information from British ambassador indicates far more loss of lives in Armenia, attended with atrocities, than stated in my telegram. of 28th.' “I have received absolutely no information concerning any cruelties committed upon citizens who have declared their intention to become naturalized in this country' or upon any persons who had a right to claim or have claimed for any reason the protection of the United States government. "In the absence of such authentic detailed knowledge on the subject as would justify our interference, no expostulations have been addressed by this government to the government of Turkey in regard to such matters.' "The last inquiry contained in the resolution of the Senate touching these alleged cruelties seeks information concerning any pro posals made by or to this Government to act in concert with other Christian powers regarding the same." "The first proposal of the kind referred to was made by the Turkish government, through our minister, on the 30th day of November, when the Sultan expressed a desire that a consul of the United States be sent with a Turkish commission to investigate these alleged atrocities on Armenians. This was construed as an invitation on the part of the Turkish government to actually take part with a Turkish commission in an investigation of these affairs and any report to be made thereon, and the proposition came before our minister's second dispatch was received, and at a time when the best information in the possession of our government was derived from its first report, indicating that the statements made in the press were sensational and exaggerated, and that the atrocities alleged really did not exist. This condition very much weakened any motive for an interference based on considerations of humanity, and permitted us, without embarrassment, to pursue a course plainly marked out by other controlling incidents. By a treaty entered into at Berlin in the year 1878, between Turkey and various other governments, Turkey undertook to guarantee protection to the Armenians, and agreed that it would 'periodically make known the steps taken to this effect to the powers, who wil! superintend their application.' "Our government was not a party to this treaty, and it is entirely obvious that, in the face of the provisions of such treaty above recited, our interference in the proposed investigation, especially without the invitation of any of the powers which had assumed by treaty obligations to secure the protection of these Armenians, might have been exceedingly embarrassing, if not entirely beyond the limits of justification or propriety. "The Turkish invitation to join the investigation set on foot by that government was, therefore, on the 2d day of December, declined. On the same day, and after this declination had been sent, our minister at Constantinople forwarded his second dispatch, tending to modify his former report as to the extent and character of Armenian slaughter. At the same time the request of the Sultan for our participation in the investigation was repeated, and Great Britain, one of the powers which joined in the treaty of Berlin, made a like request. "In view of changed conditions, and upon reconsideration of the subject, it was determined to send Mr. Jewett, our consul at Sivas, to the scene of the alleged outrages, not for the purpose of joining with any other government in an investigation and report, but to the end that he might be able to inform this government as to the exact truth. "Instructions to this effect were sent to Mr. Jewett, and it is supposed he has already entered upon the duty assigned him.” President Cleveland, message to the Senate, Dec. 11, 1894, S. Ex. Doc. 11, Art. LXI. of the Treaty of Berlin, referred to in the message, provides: The Turkish government, when advised of the intention of the United States to send Mr. Jewett as an independent investigator, and not as a member of the Turkish commission, objected on the ground that if this privilege should be granted to the United States it would be claimed by the parties to the treaty of Berlin, and the investigation would thus assume a European character. Permission to Mr. Jewett to go in an independent capacity having been refused, it was decided not to press the matter further. For. Rel. 1894, 723, 725. December 19, 1895, President Cleveland communicated to the Senate, with a special message, a report of Mr. Olney, Secretary of State, on the condition of affairs in Asiatic Turkey. He referred to the failure, mentioned in his annual message of December 3, 1895, of the proposal of the United States for an independent investigation on its part of the occurrences at Sassoun in August, 1894. The facts in regard to the recent outbreaks at Constantinople, Sivas, and Trebizond had, he said, been communicated by official representatives of the United States, and the conditions at Harpoot and Marash were expected to be elicited in connection with the American claims for the destruction of property. As to the recent disturbances in other parts of Asia Minor, the Department of State was dependent on hearsay and the statements of individuals not officially dependent upon it. President Cleveland referred to the political aspirations of the Armenians and to the race hatred between them and the Koords. President Cleveland, special message, Dec. 19, 1895, S. Doc. 33, 54 Cong. As to the Armenian riot at Constantinople on September 30, 1895, see As to the aims and methods of the Huntchaguists, see For. Rel. 1895, II. As to the treatment of naturalized citizens of the United States of As to American missionary claims for destruction of property at Marash, By the diplomatic and consular appropriation act of March 2, 1895, provision was made for new United States consulates at Erzerum and Harpoot. Vice-consular commissions were issued in June to two experienced employees of the Department of State. They reached Constantinople in July, and, after waiting more than two months for exequaturs, which were refused by the Porte on the ground that there was no commerce with either town, were directed Sept. 11, 1895, to proceed to their posts without them. They got as far as Trebizond, the nearest Black Sea port, where, owing to obstacles then existing to the journey to the mountainous interior, they remained from October 5 to November 10, 1895. After the riots at Trebizond, one of them was recalled for other employment, while the other, not having received his teskeré and military escort, returned to Constantinople. It appears that at Harpoot no foreign consular representation then existed. At Erzerum, consulates were maintained by Great Britain, Persia, and Russia, and vice-consulates by France and Italy. Reports of Mr. Olney, Sec. of State, to the President, Dec. 19, 1895, and See Mr. Terrell, min. to Turkey, to Mr. Olney, Sec. of State, Jan. 20, 1896, |