The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-04-28
Turkeys Shameful Violation Of
Her Solemn Pledge.
THREAT BY The UNITED STATES.
Oar Representative at Consfanti-
neple Sends for a warship.


Conssantino2le, April ..-Rev. Gecreo
r. KNAPP the American missionary ex.
peiied from Bliiis by the Turkish authors
ties without trial. On n charge of having
inr,ed the Arsnenians TO rebel against
Turkish rule. was surrendered TO the
United States consal at AlexAnsiretta on
SATURDAY Details OF the affair which
reached here today show that the step ~aa
not taken unta a United States warship
had bsea telcsraptea for Knapp wiil
probably. BY advice OF United States rep-
resentatives. come 70 this city and have
nis conduct at Batiss Investigated bsfcro
the charge d'afakres.
Mr.. Knapp. as already cshied. was CT.
PEELED from Estlis about month aeo. ia
spite of the agreement reached between
the United States minister. Mr.. Terrell.
and Ths Turkish government after the
charges against Mr.. Knapp had been dis
ausscd. that the American missionary
should not leave his post until Apyn l Or
until tho roads were tolcrabfy free from
snow. IN order that he might be Ah,e 10
take his family with him.
As IL was. the missionary was compelled
to leave Bstlss before the fisne agreed upon.
and without his family. When he reached
ifaroekir IN custody the news was ssie-
sraphed here. and the Turkish government
positively asserted that Mr.. Knapp was
the guest OF the vah of that place. and
not prisoner" IT is now stated that the
MISSIONARY has been a prisoner through
out MS Journey 20 the coast. and thar the
yaii OF Aleppo detained him at thai place
for hve days while making futile efforts
70 make aim sign an agreement not 10 re-
turn 10 Biiiis- Mr.. Knapp steadily refused
10 sign any agreement. on the ground that
he had committed no crime and had In M
way broken the laws of the country. ana
thaf the charges brought against him
P1A1 rartF - N
tifcsiy gave the vail 10 understand thae
he intended TO protest 10 the United Stxsea
government against his expulsion from
Bills and his treatment In general. ana
10 hold the Turkish authorities responsible
for the safety of his family.
When the vaii saw that IL was uxr,e~p
70 continue his attempts 10 grt Mr. Knapp
20 ssn the agreement mentioned. the mis-
sionary was allowed to proceed. sim
treated as prisoner. 10 Aiexanarwssn-
II had been agreed between John w ma.
die. the United States charge a.a6ssraa
At Constaniinopse. and the Turkish roy-
erf-ment that tho American missionary
tpon arriving at Alexandretta was 10 b~
delivered to the United States cor,,s,,I
there. and the latter was to see thai Mr.
Knapp came on 10 this city for tr.a, he
fore the Representatives OF the United
states but when the missionary reached
Alexandretfa on April =. In spits Ct the
porte's promises the Turkish authorities
refused TO deliver the prisoner TO ths.
United 6kntes coAsui. The lnkser en4erxsf
a formal protest against the detention of
the missionary. and communicated by
wire with MI Riddle. informing him that
the Turkish officials intended TO expeI Mr.
Knapp from the Turkish territory by corn-
pei'ing him 20 embark on board . steamer
sailing for Europe on April ~
Thereupon Mr.. Riddle uA9o energetic
TAT t~tn
demanding that the latter respect Its en-
ssgements. and in order to give emphasis
10 his remarks the charge d'affaires tcie-
graphed 10 Marzna, where the United
states cruiser Marbiehead was at anchor.
asking the commander Of tho vessel 20
proceed to Alexandrcfta and place the
cruiser at the disposition Of the United
States consul at ahat port. This prompt
cotton upon the part Of Mr.. Riddle had .
decided effect upon the porte. for the ist-
ter no sooner became aware that the Mar
bieheaG had been tsiegraphed for than
orders were sent 10 Alexandretta for the
rc.ease OF Mr.. Knapp.
Those In a position to know tho facts
Of the case assert that the charges against
Mr.. Knapp are grourdiess. and that tho
iatfer'S expuiE.ru was only q haIion
d'cssai. which. II allowed 10 pass with
out protest. would probably have resulted
in similar action being taken against 9TH
er missionaries. and eventually against
all Protestanss and Catholic missionaries
in Asistic Turkey. for. all deniais to tho
contrary, the sultan had prepared to take
this step and gave up the plan only upon
the advice of tho Russian ambassador.
who. however. II credited. rightly or
wrongly. with having conveyed to the SUI
tan the plan OF getting rid Of tho mission-
aries
Mr.. Riddle. during the past few days.
II Ii understood. has been In communities
tion with Washington City regarding the
case OF Mr.. Knapp. ard II Ia briiese, thar
a searching inquiry will b. made into all
the circumstances attending the expulsion
OF the American missionary from Bills,
in order that no doubt shall remain as 10
who is 20 blame in the matter. and in or
der TO establish O precedent which may
serve as guide should further similar