The herald., 1896-04-12
KNAPP IS Still VISITING
MISSIONARIES FULLY EXPECT TO Be EX.
PEELED FROM TURKEY
The Future Of Mission Work Ia Asia Minor
Depends Upon the Gear Of Russia
In Whose Hands the sultan 10 No
Mere Than . Puppet
Associated Press Special Wire.

OESTANTINOPLE, April 11.-Al-
though the Turkish government has off,
rally announced 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 the Rev. George
Knapp of the missionaries at Bitlis has
been expelled in spite of the understand
ing in his case arrived at between United
States Minister Terrell and the Turkish
erumeut. otter it had been proposed
to try Mr.. Knapp on the charge of in
citing Armenians to revolt against the
government.
Almost daily negotiations on the sub
ject take place between the United
States charge d'affaires. Mr.. Riddle,
and the Turkish minister for foreign
affairs, but the matter is still misunder-
stood and seems to be assuming graver
aspect as time passes.
The Turkish government however,
has not made any official statement re-
garding the part taken in the affair by.
the local authorities of Bitlis. although
the official note has been issued deny
ing that Mr.. Knapp is imprisoned 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 local Off
cials of Bitlis received an order some
time ago from a high official to expel
Mr. Knapp. and it is added that it is
highly probable the order would have
been carried out long before the mis-
sionary was compelled to leave his post.
had 1t not been for the arrival at Moosh
of the British vice consul. Mr.. Hanson.
Ia L
OF the American missionary, examined
into the charges brought against him,
pronounced them to be entirely ground
less and SO informed the United States
minister, who thereupon insisted that
Mr.. Knapp should leave Bitlis. when
the state of the roads permitted, or
about the end of April"
The missionary, however, was forced
by the authorities of Bitlis to leave his
post before April 1, when the roads
were so bad that his family was unable
to accompany him. He Is now reported
to be near Alexandretta, and it is fur
ther stated that the United States min
lister was notified, as agreed, of the ex-
pulsion of the American missionary from
Bitlis.
The missionaries place little faith in
the assurance of the porte that it Is not
intended to expel them from Asia Min
or. Some pretext for their expulsion.
they believe, will be found whenever the
porte deems it necessary. Such charge
as conspiring against the government is
usually made and can be established
to the satisfaction of Turkish official
looking for an opportunity to condemn
a Christian. The future of the mission
thies depends upon Russia, and 1t is
upon the Russian government and not
the Turkish government. that influence
had been brought to bear in order to
protect the lives and property of the
missionaries. The sultan is little more
than a puppet in the hands of the czar
and it Is to the latter that the govern
ments of the missionaries must turn in
this emergency. But will the czar re-
hounce his intention to Russianize Asia
Minor? This is a question which the
missionaries are now asking themselves.
HE WON'T RESIGN
LONDON, April 11.--A Constanti-
nople special says the Armenian Catho-
lie patriarch has refused to resign at the
command of the sultan. The patriarch
declares that it will be impossible for
him to obey the popes injunction to re-
main q his most