The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-10-15
THE UNITED STATES HAS NO IN
TENTION OF FORCING THE
DARDANELLEs.
ORDERS TO THE BANCROFT
WERE NEVER ISSUED WITH ANY
SUCH AN ATTEMPT IN
VIEW.
WHOLE STORY cLAssED AS ABSURD
Uncle Sam Would Like n Dispatch
Boat on Hand, but That
Is All.

LONDON, Oct. 14-Inquiries babe at
the foreign Office show that nothing is
known there regarding the alleged in
tention of the United States govern
ment to force the passage of the Oar
danelles with the cruiser Bancroft,
supported by the other vessels of the
United States squadron, in European
waters
Washington, Oct. 1.-THE closest in
quiry fails to disclose any change in
the policy of the state department to-
wards the Turkish question. and in
particular respecting the movements Of
the little dispatch boat, Bancroft
From the first the officials of both the
state and navy department have been
reticent on this subject and have re-
fused to state where the boat was go
ing, further than to make tie official
orders to her commander. These or
GERS directed him to report on arrival
at Gibraltar to Admiral Selfri7ge, COM
handing the European station, and to
take all further orders from him. f
can be stated positively, however, that
no orders have gone forward since the
original instructions to Admiral Sell
fridge, nor are any on the way now
touching the future movements of the
Bancroft.
The vessel upon arrival at Gibraltar
was ordered by Admiral Selfridge to
proceed to Smyrna. and she is due
at that place in a day or two. The
Cincinnati is also on the way to the
same point. At Smyrna are now as
sembled the flagship San Francisco.
the Minneapolis and the Marblehead.
The purpose of the gathering is to
meet the Cincinnati and the Bancroft,
which bring out drafts of new men to
take the place of the sailors on the
station. whose terms of enlistment are
about to expire. for if they are kept
longer, the government must pay
them extra compensation. The men
relieved are to be place on
the Marblehead, whose place on the
station will be taken by the Cincinnati
and the Marblehead will come home.
Naval officers. one and all. ridicule
the idea that the little Bancroft will
undertake to force the passage of the
Dardanelles, for this would be abso-
lutely impossible single handed, and
even If she succeeded. she would be
helpless when she arrived off Constan-
tinople. The probability is that she has
been sent to Turkey to serve whatever
useful purpose she can, either as dis
patch boat to communicate between
the larger vessels of the United States
squadron. or to accommodate Minis
ter Terrell
Undoubtedly the minister would like
tc have near the United States lega-
ton a vessel to serve as refuge for
the legation people and Americans in
COnStantinOple in case of riOting but
it will be left to his discretion (and
Minister Terrell on numerous occasions
has shown that he can be trusted as to
the means by which he shall bring
about concession desired from the
sultan, with whom he has much in
ffuence) to get the right Of way for the
Loaf if he wants her. The state de-
paItment has made no request so far
for her admission to the Dardanelles,
and in view of the semi-o:ficial an
nouncement of the porte that such per-
mission would not be granted it is I'M
likely it would subject itself to the
snub that might be expected # a de-
mand were made. 1t is regarded as
likely that in case of rioting in Con-
stantinople, Mr.. Terrell would be able
TO bring the ship through without ser
!ous objections, but in the present
aspect of Turkish affairs there is no
reason to look for trouble
That part of the Bancroft story al
legirg that the French fleet would
cooperate in securing the passage of
the Bancroft through the Dardenelles
is absolutely without foundation. and
it can be stated on absolute and I'M
questioned diplomatic authority that
no negotiations to such an end ever
have been attempted The essential
features of the entire story are dis
credited in diplomatic circles. which
believe that the published report or
iginated in the fact that the Ban
cFoft's admission to the Bosphorus is
desired, and that Minister Terrell will
use the influence he possesses with
the Porte to bring it about by peace
full methods but will not persist if de-
cided objection is made. So far as
the United States alone is concerned.
the European powers have no Objec-
ton to the presence of a dispatch boat
in the Bosphorus. the objections aris-
ing solely from the fact that it might
establish a precedent for like demands
from other nations.
From the most official source it is
learned that the movements Of the Ban
croft have not figured in any way in
the cabinet meetings held since the re-
turn of the president to this city, and
equally good and strong denials can
be entered as to all the sensational
features of the published report In
deed, the matter has not engaged the
attention of the administrative officers
the state and navy departments since
the sending of the original orders to
the commanders of the European
squadron. At no time was there the
slightest intention of undertaking to
force a passage of the Dardanelles,.
least of all, at present, when almost
daily cables bring the assurance of the
porte to some one of the powers party
to the treaty of Paris, that reforms
shall be initiated at once in the dis
turbed province, and that the Turkish
officials shall be held to a rigid re-
sponsibility for the maintenance of
order and the protection of life and
property in their respective provinces.
. The administration has strongly re-
corded itself, notably in the Venezue-
Z Ian correspondence with Great Britain,
as bound to refrain from interference
in European policies that do not di-
rectly affect the United States, and
while it might be gratified, were the
Bancroft admitted to the Dardanelles
for the benefit of Minister Terrell, 1t is
not disposed to make any issue that
would tend to complicate the situa-
ton.