The Red Cloud chief., 1896-04-17
RUSS!A'S HAND APPEARS



Armenia IIot E..ng Carried out.
CoNsTASriSorfE, April 10 Accord.
ing to IA scmi-oticial statement, the
Turkish government bases its action
in eNpelling or allowing the expulsion
by the authorities of Bitlis of the
American missionary, the Rev. George
j.. Knapp, on an understanding be-
tween the porte and United States
Minister Terrell that Mr.. knapp was
to leave BitliS April II. When the
missionary took no steps to depart,
the local officials of BItlis invited him
To do 80. At hat time. it is also said,
the United States charge IL affairce,
John w. Riddle. had no official ex.
plantations on the subject. Mr.. Knapp
has left Diarbckir, and from there,
unless the plans of the Turkish rov.
eminent are intcrfcycd with, the
American missionary will be invited
to go to Alexandrctta in order that he
may embark upon a steamer there.
1t is generally believed here that the
expulsion of Mr.. Knapp is only the
first step taken by the sultan. insti-
gated 10y Russia, in the direction of
eNpelling all Irtestart and Catholic
missionaries. as well as the gents OF
the American Red Cross society, from
Armenia, in order To make way for
the priests of the Russian church.
This is believed to bc the basis of the
understanding .(or secret treaty. ar
rived Mt between Russia and Turkey
whcn the fleets of the powers had
assembled in the bay of Salonicn
and the coercion of Turkey by u dis
play of naval strength before Con-
stantinopie had been almost decided
upon. a plausible p%retcxt, however,
had TO be found for such an important
move, u 1t was agreed that the
work Of the missionaries should DC de.
clared of Il d~isquicting nature and
Likely TO incitc the hrmenians to re-
beIllon. This was TO be followed by
closely. watching the most active OF
the missionaries, to prepare the
ground work for charges %agains, them
OF encouraging the A%rmenians TO re-
volt.
During the last series of massacrcs
in Armenia il was continually cluimcd
that the ~uprisings were the work OF
the Armenian revolutionary agents.
Lately, however, il has been limited
hat the missionaries were al the back
of the revolutionary agents. that to
the missionaries should lie traced the
real cause of the uprising, and that
upon them should fall the blame for
the b~loodshed by the Turks in sup.
pressing disorder" Finally, il wa
decided to begin with Mr.. Knapp.
who has probably been the most
Jealous of all the active workers
in the cause of Christianity in
Asiatic Turkey. and lie was openly
charged with melting the Armcnians
of Bitlis to revolt. and was to have
been tried by the local court there on
the charge of high treason. People
familiar with the methods of the
Turks have not the slightest doubt
that the American missionary would
have been found guilty, and that al
legged proof would have been furnished
only Of his guilt. but OF the guilt
OF the missionaries rs "a body. Then
the United States minister interfcred
the hand of the Turk was STAYED
for awhile.
But Mr.. Knapp Is being expelled
from Asiatic Turkey and nobody here
that this is only the first of a
series OF such explosions which will
end with driving all the American,
British and French missionaries ont
OF Turkey, at the instance of Russia
in accordance with the latter's
of beginning the Russian zinr
OF Asiatic Turkey.