Evening star., 1896-04-07
Rev. MIR. Knapp, the American Mis-
sionary, Arrested.
INTERNATIONAL OBLIGATIONS LIKELY
Red Cross Agents and Others May
Be Expelled.
THE EMB ASSIES ACTIVE


CONSTANTINOPLE, April 6. via Sofia,
Bulgaria, April 7.-Advices received here
today from Diarbekir indicate beyond any
reasonable doubt that the Rev. Mr.. George
c. Knapp, one of the American mission
aries at B.tlis, is confined In the Jail at
Diarbekir. capital of the vilayet of that
name. in Turkish Armenia, and that serious
interna ational complications are more than
likely to follow.
The Turkish government, replying to the
representations of the United States charge
d'affaires, MIR. John w. Riddle. has
nounced, through the grand vizier and
through the minister for foreign affairs,
that no news has been received by the
porte regarding the reported expulsion of
the Rev. Mr.. Knapp from Bitls. and it was
intimated that If it was true he had ar
rived at Diarbekir it would appear that
the local authorities were desirous of Sc
cretly expelling the American missionary.
But the latest news from Diarbekir shows
that this cannot possibly be the case,
as 1t is further announced that the Rev.
Mr.. Knapp Is to be sent from Diarbekir to
AieXandretta, j seaport on the Bay of Is
kanderun, opening into the eastern portion
of the Mediterranean, there to be either
shipped out of the country or delivered to
the representatives of the United States.
At the first int.mation of trouble the Uni
ted States charge d'affaires. after COM
municating with the porte and receiving
the unsatisfactory reply cited above cabled
TO Washington for further Instructions, and
it is now said that the United States squad
ron in the Mediterranean, consisting of the
flagship Minneapolis, commanded by Ad-
miral t. o. Selfridge, and the cruiser Mar
blehead, will shortly assemble in the Gulf
of Iskanderum and at the same time
formal protest against the treatment of the
American missionaries may be made to the
porte, coupled with the demand for ade-
quate indemnity for the damage recently
done to the property of Americans.
May Expcl All missionaries.
The Imprisonment and proposed expul-
sion from the Turkish dominions of the
Rev. Mr. Knapp is, however, understood to
be bu. preliminary to the expulsion of
all the Christian missionaries, mostly
Americans, English and French Catholics,
from Asiatic Turkey, and, possibly, from
European Turkey.
Besides, 1t is rumored that the agents OF
the American Red Cross Society, now dis
tributins relief funds in Asiatic Turkey, in
the presence of the local Turkish officials,
are also to be expelled from that part of
the empire. In support of this report it is
stated that an imperial trade providing for
the expulsion from Turkey of the Christian
missionaries and agents of the American
Red Cross Society has already been signed
by the sultan. although it has not yet been
issued from the palace.
That this is the case would seem to be
proved by the activity at the French and
British embassies during the past few days.
and by the visits which che United States
charge d'affaires has made to the porte.
1t is also known that a panic exists
among the Armenians of the district of
Suedich, owing, it is explained, to the
presence there, for some unknown reason,
of strong force of Turkish troops.
Charge Against Mr.. Knapp,
The United States charge d'affaires has
obtained from the porte the assurance that
the Vail of Aleppo has been instructed to
Protect the American missionaries in the
Suedich district.
OF course, in the matter of the arrest
imprisonment and proposed expulsion of
the Rev Mr.. Knapp. in all other cases
OF similar nature, there are two sides to
the question. The claim made by the
friends cf the American missionary is that
ne Is being unjustly prosecuted by the
Turkish authorities. On the other hand,
the Turkish officials assert that the Rev.
MI Knapp has persistently encouraged
seditious movements among the Armenians,
In spite of several official warnings
1t should be added, however that a dis
interested observer, Mr.. Hampson, the Brit
ish consul at Bitlis, has carefully inquired
INTO the charges brought against Mr.. Knapp
and has pronounced them to be absurd.
The American missionary, nevertheless
was informed that it had been decided to
Try MIN before the criminal court on the
charge of conspiring against the Turkish
government. and he was notified to appear
Tor trial This was in February last.
MIR. Knapp theceuoon placed the matter
before United States Minister Terrell, and
asked for the 1atter's advice. Mr.. Terrell
teiesraphed the missionary to obey the
orders of the Turkish authorities under
protest, pending action upon the part of the
United States minister here. Mr.. Terrell
then rotified the porte that he would not
consent to having Mr. Knapp tried in the
manner proposed, and suggested that the
case be brought before mixed commission
1t was ter decided to try the missionary
mere. In the presence of a representative Of
the United States government. But it ap-
pears, the roads were So blocked with snow
until the end of last month that the mis-
sionary was unable to travel to this city
Hence.-t seems, his arrest and imprison-
ment at Diarbekir. pending his expulsion
from Asiatic Turkey, and also, 1t seems, the
determination of the sultan to expel all
Christian missionaries and agents of the
American Red Cross Society from Turkey,