The Irish standard., 1896-04-11
EXPELLED FROM TURKEY.
Rev. Mr.. Knapp Made Victim of
thu Su'tan's
Wrath.
MUET GO AT ONCE
The Turk Is at His Cid Tricks
and Has Ne
Mercy.
MUST GO Ar oHcI

ConstantinopIe April s, via Sofia, Bull
garia, April 9.-It now appears, according
to serlai-official statement, that the
Turkish government bases its action in
expelling or allowing the expulsion by
local authorities OF Bitlis of the American
missionary, the Rev. George P. Knapp,
on an understanding reached between the
porte and United States Minister Terrell.
1t is added that it was agreed between
the government and MI. Terrell that the
Rev. Mr.. Knapp was to leave BstiIs On
April L. and, as the missionary took no
steps to depart, the local officials OF BIT
lis politely invited him to leave. AT that
time, it is also said, the United States
charge d 'affaires, John w. Riddle, had no
official explanations on the subject. Mr..
Knapp has lett DiarbelSir for Alepp0, and
from there unless the plans of the Turk
ish government are imerfered with the
American missionary will be .sinVited" to
go to Alexandretta, in order that he may
embark upon a steamer there. 1t is gem
orally believed that the expulsion Of Mr.
Knapp il only the first step taken by the
sultan in the direction Of eXpelliEg all
Protestant and Catholic missionaries, as
well as the agents of the American Red
Cross Society, from Armenia.
There are several reasons given for this
movement but the affair may be summed
up in the statement that there Is no doubt
that Russia and Turkey are alarmed at
the effect Of the work of the missionaries
in Armenia and elsewhere, and that 1t
has practically been decided that they
are to be expelled under some excuse. or
other, in order to make way for the
priests of the Russian church This IS be-
lieved to be the basis of the understand
ing (or secret treaty. arrived at between
Russia and Turkey.
When the fleets of the powers had as
sembled in the bay Of Salonica, and the
question of coercing Turkey BY display
Of naval strength before ConstantinOple
has been almost decided upon, the threat
ening attitude of the powers threw Tur-a
key into the arms Of Russia, and the lat
ter, after debating her terms, caused the
break up of the European combination
against the Turkish empire by refusing
to take part in any such demonstration
and by threatening to protect the sultan
BIZ force Of arms If necessary. Hence the
assembling Of the Russian Black sea
squadron in readiness for immediate ac-
ti0n and the gathering of Russian army
corps on the frontier of Asiatic Turkey.
Russia. it IS now asserted, cleverly took
advantage Of the desperation Of the sui
tan to obtain a virtual pIotectorate over
Armenia But such a step, openly taken,
would iii all probability have led to serl-
Gus troEble. Therefore, 1t was decided TO
begin the Russianizing of Asiatic Turkey
by getting rid Of the Protestant and Cath
Ollie missionaries and TO substitute priests
of the Russian church for thsn1. a plaus-
ibles pretext, however, had to be found for
such an important move, ard it was
agreed that tine work cf the missionaries
should be@pointed to as being Of Il iisqui-
eting nature and as likely to incite the
Armenians to rebellion. This was to be
followed by closely watching the most
active and jealous Of the missionaries ana
to prepare the ground work for charges
against them of encouraging tie ArEa |
mans to revolt against the sultan \ rule.
During the last series Of maSsacres in Ar |
menia, It was continually claimed that
the uprisings were the work OF the Amer !
ican revolutionary agents; lately how /
ever, since the collapse OF the proposed I
naval demonstration, a. a result of the e.
cret agreement arrived at between Turkey |
and Russia, it has been whispered. in |
the right quarters that the missionaries |
were at the back Of the revolutionary
agents, that TO the missionaries should be /
traced the real cause Of the uprising. and I
that upon them should f.ial The blame for i
the bloodshed by the Turks III suppress 4
ing disorders" Such all argument is
classed as being well worthy Of Turkish /
and Eastefn cunning in gem /
eral, and it could not fail to excite the
Turks against the missionaries
Finally Il was decided to begin with /
the Rev George r. Knapp, who has prob i
ally been the most jealous III all tha ac-
tive workers Ia the cause Of Christianity 1
in Asiatic Turkey, and he was eventually |
openly charged with inciting the Arne- +
mans OF BItlis to revolt. and was to have
been tried by the local court there Oh. the
charge e high treason People familiar
with the methods OF the Turks nave not Il
the slightest doubt that the Americani
would have been found guilty |