The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-04-09
All Missionaries tOBeSent
From Turkey.
Place Must Be Made for the
Priests of Russian Church.
Expulsion of Rev. Mr.. Knapp Leads
to important Surmises.

CoSsTANrINoPLE, April 8: rvia Sofia, Bul
garia, April e.-It now appears, according to
semi-oaicial statement. that tho Turkish
government bases its action in expslIipg or
allowing the expulsion by the local authorities
at Bitls of the American missionary, the
Rev. Mr.. George p. Knapp. from that place
and possibly from Asiatio Turkey, on an un
derstanding reached between the Porto and
the United States minister, Mr.. Alexander
w. Terrell, previous TO- tho latter's departure
for America. IL is added that IL was agreed
between the Government and Mr.. Terrell
that the Rov. Mr.. Knapp was to leave Bitlis
on April /. and in consequence. when the
missionary took no steps to depart, the local
officials politely invited him to leave. At that
time, ii is also said. the United States charge
d. affnires. Mr.. John W. Riddle, had no official
explanation on the subject.
The Rev. Dir. Knapp has left Diarbekr for
Aleppo, and from there, unless the plans OF
the Turkish government are interfered with,
tho American missionary will bo invited to
gapfo Alexsndretta. in order that he may en-
bark upon steamer there, and his expulsion
will be an accomplished fact. in spite Of ths
gloss which the turkish officials attempt to
throw over the affair.
sion of the Rev. Mr.. Knapp Is only the first
step taken by tho sultan In the direction Of
expe!ling all Protestant and Catholic mission-
aries, as well as the sgents Of the American
Red Cross Society from Armenia. There are
several reasons given for this movement but.
the affair may bs summed up in tho state
ment that there is no doubt that Russia and
Turkey are alarmed at the effect OF the work
.l.x A..
and that it has practically been decided that
they are 20 be expelled under some excuse or
other in order to make way for priests % the
Russian church. This is believed to Re the
basis of the understanding. or secret treaty.
arrived at between Russia and Turkey when
the fleets of the powers had assembled In the
bay OF Salonica, and the question OF coercing
Turkey by display of naval strength befors
Constsntinople had been almost decided upon.
According to the explanation as furnished here
OF the sultan's present attitude toward the
missionaries. the threatening attitude OF the
powers at that time threw Turkey into the
arms of Russia, and the latter. after dictat-
ing her terms caused the breaking up OF the
European combination against the Turkish
empire by refusing to take part Ia any
such demonstration.
"A plausible pretext, however, fad 20 Do
found for such an important move. and IL
was agreed that the work OF the missionaries
should he pointed to as being OF disquieting
nature, and az likely to Incite the Armorians
TO rebellion This wns to be followed by
closely watching the most active and jealous
Of the missionaries and 20 prepare the grounds
work for charges against them OF encouraging
the Armenians TO revolt against ths Sultan's
rule. During tho last series sf massaebes In
Armenia. il was continually claimed that the
uprisines were the work of the Armenian re.
volutionary agents. Lately. however. since
the collapse of the proposed navsl demonsira-
tion as q result OF the secret agreement
arrived ut between Turkey and Russia, IL has
been whispered" in the right quarters that
the missionaries were at the back of the revo-
lutionary agents, that to the missionaries
should re traced the real cause of tho upris-
ing, and that upon them should fall tho real
blanc for the bloodshed by the Turks In
"supprossing disorder and by threatening ia
protect tho Sultan by force of arms IL neces.
sary. Hence. the assembling Of the Russian
Black Sea squadron In readiness for Immediate
action. and the gathering of Russian army
corps on tho frontiers OF Asiatic Turkey,
Russia IL is now asserted, cleveriy took ad-
vantage OF the desperation Of the sultan 10
obtain n virtual protectornto over Armenia.
But such a step openly taken would. in all
probability have led 20 serious trouble
Therefore, 10 is decided TO begin the Russisn-
izing of Asiatic Trukey by getting rid Of the
Protestant and Catholic missionaries, and TO
substitute Russian priests z:or them.