The San Francisco call., 1896-12-13
THAT HEXED TURKISH QUESTION
If the Powers Have agreed to Control the
Sultan Uncle Sam Has Not Been
informed

NEW YORK, N. Y, Dec. IA Sun
special from Washington says: Govern.
ment officials at Washington are as yet
without official information regarding the
agreement reached by the powers for in
tervention in the Eastern question, but
say that until the British Foreign Office
makes public its terms and notifies the
representatives of the various foreign
countries having legations in London, the
State Department cannot be advised by
EN- AMBASSADOR Bayard OF the momentous
news.
1t is said that while intimation has been
received that progress was being made be-
tween Russia, France and Great Britain
which promised a satisfactory settlement
CT the whole Turkish problem, so sudden a
determination to inform the Sultan OF the
ultim alum was not anticipated.
One of the Assistant Secretaries Of State
practically acknowledged yesterday that
the reason why Minister Terrell had not
met the cruiser Bancroft at Smyrna
and taken her to Constantinople
wes that an intimation had been
received from Russia that in a very
BRIEF time reforms in Turkey would be
carried out through the combined efforts
of the powers, the Dardapelles opened to
the navies of the world and that any at
tempt then to secure the United States
guardship against The protest OF the Porte
might tend to complicate matters and in
teriere with the proceeding OF the pro-
gramme.
At that time dispatches Ito newspapers
stated in positive terms that the Bancroft
would proceed through the Dardanelles.
1t was the purpose OF Minister Terrell to
carry out the plan then set forth, and
there is little doubt that it would have
been accom- plished and not gun turned
on the little vessel, when the Porte was
brought to recognize that the United
States would sustain its contention that
the straits were not closed to American
vessels by sending the Bancroft through.
Minister Terrell had little doubt then,
it is now officially known, of his ability to
secure a hrman, and the Bancroft would
now have been anchored in the Colleen
Horn but for unexpected developments in
the Turkish question, arising out of the
rapid work accomplished by Russia in
bringing the other European powers to
agree TO concerted action in settling the
whole affair.
Since the Bancroft incident it hes been
known here that 1t was only question al
short timetwhen the visit of the Gar to
England and France would bear fruit and
that Europe would hear of the agreement
reached between the powers to act Jointly
in treating with the Sultan, or use force il
diplomacy ia led.
1t is now sserted that the Presidents
reference in his message to the necessity
of re ainiag naval feet in Eastern waters
was due to the expected break in the
Sultan's administration, which, when il
comes, will no doubt require the presence
of every vessel there TO look after the
Americans stationed in the small cities
along the Syrian coast.
The prevalent impression here and es'
pecialy at the State Department, which is
kept thoroughly advised when anything
occurs iifEurope rec arding Turkey IS thai
the Sultan will accept the propositions te
be submitted by the powers and promptly