persons because of their being Christians, except such
information as has been derived from newspapers and statements emanating
from the Turkish Government denying such cruelties and two telegraphic
reports from our minister at Constantinople.

One of these reports, dated November 28, 1894, is in answer to an
inquiry by the State Department touching reports in the press alleging
the killing of Armenians, and is as follows:

Reports in American papers of Turkish atrocities at Sassoun are
sensational and exaggerated. The killing was in a conflict between
armed Armenians and Turkish soldiers. The grand vizier says it was
necessary to suppress insurrection, and that about fifty 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 proposals 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 then 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 inform