San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1896-10-23
SULTAN SUBMITS.
SECRETARY 0LNEY O0MPELS SUB
MISSION FROM THE TURK.
Our Passports, Whether Held by Native
p Citizens or Naturalized Armenian
Americans, Will be Recognized

NE" lOIhs OCl. Ca sun SltNidi
from Washington says:
Possibly from apprehension that the
American government will not sane
ton further delay in the settlement of
the large indemnities due for the out
RACES during the Armenian outbreaks,
and the fear that it will be forced TO
invite the presence of the Bancroft
as guardship rather than risk the
humiliating spectacle of witnessing
the Dardanelles entered with or with
out a firman, the sublime porte has
acceded to an important point con-
tended for by the administration and
regarded as one of the most vital
questions pending between the two
governments. Whether it is due to
Admiral Selfridge's fleet in the Medi-
terranean or the stern policy pursued
by Secretary Olney in dealing with
Turkish affairs, the porte has backed
completely down from an attitude
maintained for years in which it had
the earnest support of Russia.
Secretary Olney, through the active
intercession of Minister Terrell, has
brought the sultan to agree to nego-
tate a treaty whereby naturalized cit
liens of the United States of Ar
menian extraction shall have full pro-
lection accorded all other persons
visiting the Turkish empire with pass
ports from the state departernent.
Turkey has heretofore maintained
that our passports, when'presented by
Armenians or Turks, did not guaran-
tee their protection or the exercise of
rights of Americans in the sultan's
empire and in this she has been en-
couraged by Russia, now the only 9th
err European power refusing to
pay proper Difference and respect to
American passports. The question
between the United States and Tur-
key has been open for years and fire.
quent and repeated efforts have been
made to negotiate a treaty such as
the United States has with the lead
ing European powers.
Secretary Olney has been in COM
munication with the porte for sever
al months and reported to the sultan
last winter the necessity Of recogniz-
ing American passports unless the re-
lations between the two governments
were to become greatly strained.
The sultan has, however, until re-
Gently pointedly refused to treat Min
lister Terrells communications on the.
subject with courtesy. The sultan
has now completely reversed his pol
icy and voluntarily asked the United
States to enter upon the negotiations
of a treaty, under the terms Of which
the porte will give full recognition to
citizens of the empire who have be-
come American citizens and are trav-
cling in Turkey with state department
passports.
The notification came a few days
ago, when the secretary of the Tur-
kish legation here called at the state
department and informed Mr.. Olney
that the sultan has instructed him to
notify this country of its pleasure in
resuming negotiations begun some
years ago and ruthlessly cast aside
later by the sultan's demands.
Following so closely upon the sui
tan's announcement this week that
families of Armenians now in the Uni
ted States might leave Turkish terri
tory, the officials here regard Tur-
keys concession as exceedingly Sig
nificant of a purpose to accede to the
demands made by this government
and now pending before the porte.
The most important of these is the
indemnity question conceded by Tur-
key to be a just claim, but which she
refuses to pay. The influences that
have caused the porte to so sud
denly change it's attitude, and within
a week concede to two very important
points to Secretary Olney, is accepted
here as clearly indicating a desire to
court friendly relations with Wash
ington and prevent if possible a per-
emptory demand for the payment of
the indemnity which the sultan's
treasury is now in no condition to
meet.
If the Bancroft now gets up to Con-
stantinople and anchors off the Amer
lean legation as guardship, as she will
no doubt do very shortly, Secretary
Olney will be satisfied with this treat
ment Of Turkish affairs.