The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-01-08
THE TURKS METHODS
GEN LEW WALLACE TALKS OF THE.
DEMAND FOR INDEMNITY.
III the United states Presents an UItf-
matum. Preparations should Re
Made for Enforcing Ii.

Perhaps no other person I'm the United
States understands the Turkish temper or
the methods Of the Turkish government
better than Gen. Lew Wallace does. He
was United States minister To Turkey
four years and was conspicuous among
the representatives of other governments
as a favored friend of the Sultan. The
sultan of that period is still the reigning
ruler and Gen. Wallace has many evidences
OF his friendship. AS the representative OF
a friendly power it was Gen. Wallace's
duty TO use his best efforts 10 gain the
confidence and good will of the sovereign
or the court to which he was accredited.
His first step toward accomplishing this
was-but that is another story.
n representative OF the Journal asked
Gen. Wallace yesterday what he thought
Of the rumor that the United States gov
eminent would soon make a demand upon
the Turkish government for indemnity on
account Of damages to the property OF
American citizens in Turkey, and would
back up the demand by a naval demonstra-
ton in the Bay of Smyrna. Gen. Wallace
said:
The United States government ought not
TO make any demand on Turkey in the
nature OF an ultimatum unless il is pre-
pared TO back IL up by force. If there is
TO be a naval demonstration it should
not be in the Bay of Smyrna. but in the Bay
of Constantinople. What the result would
De L cannot say, but whatever demonstra-
ton of force is made should be under the
shadow of the Sultans palace"
To question whether he thought that
recent outrages or the rights of American
citizens in Turkey. would justify such ac-
ton on the part of the United States. Gen.
Wallace replied that he did not know. He
only knew that 1t was very difficult, al
most impossible to get justice from the
hat rfr
eous demands made by him while he was
minister had been denied or ignored. He
continued:
There are two reasons why the Euro
pean powers hesitate TO interfere in the
internal affairs of Turkey for the protec-
ton of the Armenians. First, they are
intensely jealous of one another and each
one is afraid of all the others; and. sec
ond, there is the ever threatening danger
of preciptating a religious war. If the
European powers should lay hands on the
Sultan or attempt to depose him or turn
MIN out or Europe 1T would probably re-
suit in the massacre of thousands of Chris
tians and might be the precursor of the
bloodiest page in modern history. The
raising of the green flag would precipitate
seen. The European powers undoubtedly
recognize this possibility, and. added TO
their Jealousy and distrust of one another.
1t makes them very cautious"
do you think this possibility would he
involved in a naval demonstration of the
United States 10 enforce just demands"
was asked.
Il do not know" said Gen. Wallace. 1T
is difficult to say what the effect of such
United States is not bound by the Berlin
treaty. and yet ii is in a measure COM
mitted. at least by presidents, TO a recog
milton of Turkeys claim to control the
Sea of Marmora So far Turkey is con-
cerned, the forcible passage of the Oar
danelles by any power would be tantamount
to an act of war. Whether European gov
ernments would so regard it, or what posi-
ton they would assume, ! cannot say. As
to the fea siblity of running the Darda-
neles / have doubt. If l were charged
as an agent of the United States with the
duty of making a demand on Turkey and
placed in command of a frst-class YES
sci I should have no fear of passing the