Speech #530034935

Turkey complains that her Armenian subjects obtain citizenship in this country. not to identify themselves in good faith with our people. but with the intention of returning to the land of their birth and there engaging in sedition. This complaint is not wholly withoutfoundation. A journal published in this country in the Armenian language openly counsels its readers to arm. organize. and participate in movements for the subversion of Turkish authority in the Asiatic provinces. The Ottoman Government has announced its intention to expel from its dominions Armenians who have obtained naturalization in the United States since 1868. The right to exclude any or all classes of aliens is an attribute of sovereignty. It is a right asserted and. to a limited extent. enforced by the United States. with the sanction of our highest court. There being no naturalization treaty between theoUnited States and Turkey. our minister at Constantinople has been instructed that. while recognizing the right of that Government to enforce its declared policy against naturalized Armenians. he is expected to protect them from unnecessary harshness of treatment. In view of the impaired financial resources of Venezuela. consequent upon the recent revolution there. a modified arrangement for the satisfaction of the awards of the late revisory claims commission. in progressive installments. has been assented to. and payments are being regularly made thereunder. The boundary dispute betwean Venezuela and British Guiana is yet unadjusted.