Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1896-04-16
EXPEL REV. KNAPP.
Missionary Must Leave Notwith--
standing Promises Made
Mr.. Terrell.

Constantinople, April 11.-Although
the Turkish government has officially am
nounced that the missionaries in Asia
Minor will not be expelled so long as
they comply with the laws" it becomes
more and more apparent as facts leak
out that Rev George Knapp. one of the
missionaries at Bitlis. has been expelled
in spite of the understanding IN ms case
lister Terrell and the Turkish government
after it had been proposed to try MT.
KnapD on the charge of melting Armenl-
ans to revolt against the government
Almost daily negotiations on the sub
States charge d'affaires, Mr.. Riddle, and
the Turkish minister for foreign affairs.
but the matter is assuming graver
aspect as time passes. The Turkish
government. however, has not made any
official statement regarding the part tax
en- in the affair by local authorities of
Bitlis. although the official note has been
issued denying that Mr.. Knapp is inn
prisoned at Diarbekir and stating again
that there is no intention to eXpel the
missionaries so long as they comply with
the law.
Verbal explanations, however, have
been Forthcoming from the Porte, but
the friends of the missionaries do not
consider these explanations to be in any
way satisfactory. Besides it is stated
today on good authority that the local
officials of Bitlis received an order some
Mr. Knapp, and it is added that it is
highly probable that the order would
have been carried out long before the
missionary was compelled to leave MS
post had it not been for the arrival at
Moosh of the British yice-consul. Mr.:
in the case of the American missionary,
examined into the charges brought
against him, pronounced them to be en-
tirely groundless and so informed the
United States minister, who thereupon
insisted that Mr.. Knapp should be tried
in his presence at COnstantinOple.
Eventually it was agreed between the
Turkish government and Mr.. Terrell that
Mr.. Knapp should leave Bitlis, when
the state of roads permitted, or about
the end of April" The missionary. how.
ever, was forced by the authorities of
when the roads were so bad that his
family was unable to accompany him.
He is now reported to be at or near
Alexandretta. and it is further stated
that the United States minister was
not informed, as it was agreed that he
should be- of the expulsion of the Amer
lean missionary from Bitlis..
The missionaries place little faith in
the assurance of the Porte that it is not
intended to expel them from Asia Minor.
Some pretext for their expulsion, they
believe, win be found whenever the
Porte deems it necessary. Such Il charge
as conspiring against the government is
easily made and can be established to
the satisfaction of a Turkish official
looking for an opportunity to condemn
Christian. The future of the mission
aries depends upon Russia and it is upon
the Russian government that influence
should be brought to bear in order to
protect the lives and property of the
missionaries. The Sultan is little more
than puppet in the hands of the Gar
and it is to the latter that the govern
ments of the missionaries must turn in
this emergency But will the Car re-
nounce his intention to Russianize Asia
Minor? This is a question which the
miSSinna raS q re NOW n skiing them selves