New-York tribune., 1896-04-08
1T WILL RESIST EXPULSION.
THE GOVERNMENT TO PROTECT AMERI-
CAN MISSIONARIES IN TURKEY.

THEY HAVE THE RIGHT UNDER TREATIES TO
LIVE AND WORK IN THE PoRTE's DoMINIoNs
NO NAVAL DEMONSTRATION ORDERED
THE CASE OF THE REV. MR. KNAPP.
tBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE1
Washington, April THE officials at the State
Department have been fully informed of the de-
velopments in the of the Rev. Mr.. Knapp.
who Is reported by cable to be In confinement at
Diarbekr. but they refused 10 discuss the matter
In any phase. However II Is apparent that they
do not fear serious trouble in Turkey. In addition
to their private cable advices from Mr. Riddle, the
Charge d'Anaires at Constantinople, they have
the benefit Of the presence and advice Of Minister
Terrell, who at the State Department again
this morning 1t is certain that orders have
gone to Admiral Safridge to gather his fleet in the
Gulf Of Iskanderun, or to make any sort Of dem
onstration. Admiral Selfridges ships are we'll
scattered at present. His flagship. the San Fran
cisco. Is at the Piraeus; the Minneapolis Is at
Taranto Italy, making small repairs. and the
Marblehead is at Mersino. 1t Is possible that the
intention Of the Admiral to move one OF the ships
to Alexandretta. which is on the Gulf Of Iskan
derun. and has been made the headquarters for
the feet. may have given rise to the idea that he
was about to make demonstration In force with
all three vessels.
So far as the case of Mr.. Knapp is concerned 1t
presents no features Of novelty and the only point
involved on its face is the old question Of extra
territorial jurisdiction on the part Of the United
States Legation in Turkey The State Depart
ment has insisted upon the exercise of this right
steadfastly, and the correspondence sent to Con-
gress relative to the Armenian troubles shows
that although the Turkish Government has al
int hct 70 tha leo Of
right 1t has generally conceded the point. and 1t
Is presumed that the outcome In the case Of Mr..
Knapp will be the same.
The more serious aspect Of the matter is the
renewal Of the report from Constantinople that
there is to be a general expulsion Of all foreign
missionaries from Armenia. Notwithstanding the
reticence shown at the State Department. it is
believed that there is some foundation for the
report. Probably the reason for the reserve
shown by the Department Is to be accounted for
by desire to avoid giving offence to another
great Power by making public its belief that this
Power is really responsible for the attempt
to expel the missionaries but the story has
come TO Washington with every appearance Of
verify that the American and other foreign mis-
sionaries are to be driven out from Armenia
only to make room for Church which they do
represent.
However this is not to be brought about with
out earnest resistance on the part Of this Gov
ernnent. and it happens that In the present
case the United States has much better oppor-
tunity to make the issue against the expulsion
Of it's citizens than 1t would have In the case
OF other nations than Turkey As a general
principle the United States has conceded the
right OF a nation to eXpel Objectionable foreign
ers from It's territories. but II happens that in
the case Of Turkey treaty stipulations come 10
the rescue OF the missionaries In roundabout
fashion The French Government has a treaty
with Turkey explicitly concedng the right OF
their missionaries tC i've and work In Turkey.
and as the United States has treaty with
Turkey including the usual favored nation
clause the contention Of this Government is that
It's citizens have az good right as the French
10 maintain missionaries In that country. on
that point the issue will be made II 1t should
finally come to promulgation OF an trade OF
emulsion