The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-03-25
MINISTER WALLACE.
a Diplomat Who Has the Courage to De-
mand Justice for His Country.

n
mand Justice for His Country.
Uonstantinople Letter in New York Tribune.
The Porte, in deciding how far it is safe to
affront foreign governments, has even ranked
the United States below some of the European
States. Even the smallest of European govern
ments can nearly always obtain the courtesy of
an answer to their representations. But the
Porte, during the past year, has treated General
Wallace as if he were the representative Of
Danubian principality. Remonstrance after re-
nonstrance against fresh violations of the trea-
ties it has left unanswered, and it has frequently
omitted the courtesy of bare acknowledgment
of their receipt IN fact, Turkey has been rely
ing upon the distance of the United States, and
has. perhaps, been emboldened by the fact that
American war ships cling closely to the western
end of the Mediterranean. Perhaps its officials
even suppose that the American navy is afraid to
risk adventures so far from home .as the coasts
of the Levant
General Wallace has conducted himself with
dignity and has kept his temper under most
trying circumstances. But a week ago matters
came to q crisis General Wallace found it
necessary, for the safety of American citizens in
Turkey, to press for some definition Of the situa
ton During nearly five weeks he had been
refused personal interview with the Minister
of Foreign Affairs, on the ground Of '1indisposi-
Hon During all that time the representative
of that MINISTER declined to enter upon any dis
cussion of the important questions at issue.
-Four times the minister plenipotentiary of the
. United States had been turned away from the
door of the Sublime Porte by the refusal Of the
Grand Fizier to see him. Each time plausible
reasons were assigned which seemed to render
any insistanee on the part of the General I'M
courteous Yet it became daily more evident
that all these plausible excuses for declining
negotiations on the injuries done by Turkey to
American commerce and American citizens
were part Of a settled purpose not to redress the
wrongs.
On Feb. % General Wallace went to the Porte
once more to see the Minister of Foreign Affairs
and found that he was out. He was further told
IN the bandest manner that the minister would
not be in the next day nor the next This was q
little too much and the General proceeded to
the Grand Nizier's office He was met at the
door with the usual profuse regrets that his
Highness was too busy to see the minister of the
United States. General Wallace insisted upon
an interview in such terms that the Furk at
length condescended TO offer, in case he was
ensed on this occasion, to VoUchsafe an inter
view any day the General might name An
hour was fixed for the next day, and the inter
view took place General Wallace then pre-
sented to the Grand Vizier a brief paper setting
forth the repeated failure of the Porte to redress
violations of the treaties and its persistent neglect
to notice the demands of the United States for
money damages for the berefit of individual
Americans injured by the action OF the Porte
ana formally demanding within ten Gays an
answer to the communications so long left
unanswered. | am told that the Grand Vizier,
after reading the ultimatum undertook to refuse
to receive it. and wished TO argue the matter.
He claimsd that the United States must await a
chance Of finding the Minister of Foreign Affairs
less indisposed.' However he could not help
himself az to the question of receiving General
VILLAGES note, and now the ministry are DELHI
Grating on the course to be pursued. All Amer
leans here are much erzltifcd at the frmness
shown by General Wallace in this matter. The
long patience OF our government with the INSULT
ing attitude Of the Porte had almost led us to
fear that il did not realize the necessity for de-
ending its dignitY in this far-off land.