The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1896-04-11
THE RED CROSS IN PERIL
TURKEY TO HEAP INDIGNITtES
UPON ARMENIAN woR<ERs.
Rev. Knapp Under Suspicion of Itav-
ing melted Prosecuted Natives
to SeditiOus Acts.

Constantinople, April THE United
States charge d'dmaires has obtained
from the porte the assurance that the
vail of Aleppo has been instructed to
protect the American missionaries in
the Suedich district. In spite of the
assurances of the Turkish government.
in view of past experiences, IL is con-
sidered quite important that the porte
should promptly be made aware THAI
the United States. acting independent
ly if necessary, is determined to protect
the rights and property Of it's citizens in
the sultan's dominions.
In the matter of the arrest, imprison-
ment and proposed expulsion of the
Rev. DR.. Knapp, as in all other cases
of similar nature, there are two sides
to the question. The claim made by
the friends of the American missionary
is that he is being unjustly prosecuted
by the Turkish authorities. on the
other hand, the Turkish officials assert
that the Rev. Knapp has persistently
encouraged seditious movements
among the Armenians in spite of sew
eral official warnings. 1t should be add
ed, however, that disinterested OBJ
server, Mr.. Hampton, the British CON
sui at Bitls, has carefully inquired into
the charges brought against Knapp and
has pronounced them absurd.
The American missionary, neverthe-
less, was informed that it had been de-
cided to try him before the criminal
court on the charge of conspiring
against the Turkish government, and
ne was notified to appear for trial. This
was in February last. Mr.. Knapp there
upon placed the matter before United
States Minister Terrell ana asked for
the latter's advice. Mr. Terrell tele-
graphed the missionary to obey the or
ders. under protest, of the Turkish au-
thorties. pending action upon the part
of the United States minister here
Mr.. Terrell then notified the porte thai
he would not consent to having Knapp
tried in the manner proposed, and sug-
gested that the case be brought before
mixed commission. 1t was later de
cided to try the missionary here, in this
presence of a representative Of the Uni
ted States government.
1t is believed that only prompt anC
energetic action will prevent the issu
ing of an imperial order providing fol
the expulsion of missionaries and the
Red Cross Society agents. 1t is no
impossible, according to report, tina
the British government may take i'm
mediate steps to protest against thu
expulsion of missionaries, and that tn,
marquis of Salisbury in this instance
will be supported by the French gov
eminent. Here arises a delicate ques
ton. Russia is seemingly the ally o
France and the strong supporter o
Turkey under almost any circum
stances; but should France determin,
to take action in this case it is Difficult
to see how she can do so without il
some degree embrOling herself witt
Russia. 1t is just upon this point tina
rests the hope that France, through
Russia, will prevail upon the sultan no
to issue the imperial TRADE providin;
for the expulsion of missionaries an'
American Red Cross agents. and thi
may avert any serious trouble, eXcep
possibly on the part of the Unite,
States, which may think it proper 10 in
sist upon obtaining complete satisfac
ton for the alleged persecution o