The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1895-12-04
THE ALLIANCA INCIDENT.

THE ALLIANCE INCIDENT.
One notable instance of interference by |
Spain with passing American ships has
occurred. On March Sth, last, the Ali |
anca. while bound from Colon to New
York and following the Customary track
for vessels near the Cuban shore, but out
, side the three mile limit, was fired upon
by a Spanish gunboat Protest was
promptly made by the United States
against this act as not being justified by
state of war, nor permissible in respect
of vessels on the usual paths OF commerce
nor tolerable in view of the wanton peril
| occasioned to innocent life and property.
The act was disavowed, with full ex-
preston of regret and assurance of non
recurrence of such just cause Of complaint,
while the offending officer was relieved
of his command. Military arrests of
citizens of the United States III Cuba have
occasioned frequent reclamations. Where
held on criminal charges delivery to the
ordinary civil jurisdiction for trial has
been demanded and obtained in conform
| ity with treaty provisions, and where
merely detained by way of military pre-
caution under a proclamation of siege,
without formulated accusation, their re-
lease or trial has been insisted upon. The
right of American consular officers in the
is and to prefer protests and demands in
such cases having been questioned by the
consular authority, their enjoyment OF the
privilege stipulated by treaty for the con-
suls of Germany was claimed under the
most favored nation provision of our own
convention and was promptly recognized.
The long standing demand of Antonio
Maxine Mora against Spain has at last
| been settled by the payment, on the 18th
of September last, of the sum originally
agreed upon in liquidation Of the claim.
Its distribution among the parties en-
Titled to receive 1T has proceeded as rapid
ly as the rights of those claiming the
fund could be safely determined.
81 The enforcement of ditferential duties
aga inst products Of this country exported
to Cuba and Puerto Rico prompted the
immediate claim on our part to the bene
| lit OF the minimum tariff OF Spain in re-
turn for thu most favorable treatment
permitted by our laws as regards the pro-
duction of Spanish territories. A COM
mercial arrangement was concluded in
January last securing the treatment
claimed. Vigorous protests against ex-
cessive fines imposed on our ships and
merchandise by the customs officers of
these islands for trivial errors, have re-
suited IN the remission of such fines in
instances where the equity Of the COM
plant was apparent, though the vexa-
tious practice has not been wholly discon-
| tinued.
THE ARMENIAN ATROCITIES.
Occurrences in Turkey have continued
to excite concern. The reported massa-
ores of Christians in Armenia and the
development there and in other districts
of spirit of fanatic hostility to Chris
tian influences naturally excited appre-
hension for the safety of the devoted mon
and women who, as dependents Of the
foreign missionary societies IN the United
States, reside in Turkey under the guar
antee of law and usage and in the legiti- |
mate performance of their educational and |
religious mission. No efforts have been
spared in their behalf, and their protec-
ton in person and property has been
earnestly and vigorously enforced by those
means IN our power. l regret however |
| that an attempt on our part to obtain
better information concerning the true
condition of affairs in the disturbed quar-
ter of the Ottoman Empire. by sending
thither the United States consul at Sivas
to make investigation and report was
thwarted by the objections of the Turkish
government. This movement on our
part was in no sense meant as a gratui-
tous ENHANCEMENT of the United States |
in the so-called Eastern question, nor as
any officious interference with the right |
and duty which belong by treaty to Ger |
tain great European powers, calling for |
their intervention in political matters |
affecting the good government and relig-
ious freedom of the non Mussulman sub |
jects of the Sultan but it arose solely |
from our desire to have an accurate |
knowledge of the conditions in our efforts |
to care for those entitled to our protec- |
ton.
The presence OF our naval vessels, which |
are now in the vicinity of the disturbed |
localities, affords opportunities to acquire |
a measure of familiarity with the con-
dition of affairs and will enable us to |
take suitable steps for the protection of |
any interests of our countrymen within |
reach of our ships that might be found |
imperiled.
The Ottoman government has lately is
sued an imperial trade" exempting for |
ever from taxation an American college |
for girls at Scutari- Repeated assurances
have also been obtained by our envoy at |
Constantinople that similar institutions |
maintained and administered by our
cOunIrymen shall be secured in the en- |
joyment of all rights and that our citizens |
throughout the empire shall be protected |
. Our minister has been vigilant and !
alert in affording all possible protection |
in individual cases where danger threat |
ened or safety was imperilled, we have
sent ships as far toward the points of |
actual disturbance as it is possible for
them to go, where they offer refuge to |
those obliged to flee, and we have the |
promise of other Powers which have ships |
in the neighborhood that our citizens as
well as theirs will be received and pro-
tected ON board those ships. On the de-
mand of our minister, orders have been
issued by the Sultan that Turkish soldiers
shall guard and escort to the coast Ameri
can refugees. These orders have been
carried out and our latest intelligence
gives assurances of the present personal
safety of o1lr citizens and missionaries |
Though Thus far no lives of American |
citizens have been sacrificed. there can
be no doubt that serious loss and destruc-
ton of mission property have resulted |
from riotous conflicts and outrageous Eat
tacks.