The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-04-12
He Is Obedient to the Bidding
Of the Car of Russia.
THE MISSIONARIES MUST GO,
Unless Russia Changes Her Whole
Policy Regarding Armenia.
Mr.. Knapp Was Driven Out OF Bitlis In
Violation OF q Turkish Promise
Plenty Of Pretexts VIII Be Found
for the Expulsion OF the Other
Clergymen.

Constantinopie. April fl-Although the
TURKISH government has officially an
founced that the missionaries in Asia
Minor win not be expelled SO long as they
comply with the laws IL becomes more
ard more apparent. as the facts leak out,
that Rev. George Knapp. one OF the mis-
sionaries al Bitiis. has been expelled in
spite Of the understanding in his case ar
rived at between United States Minister
Terrell and the Turkish government after
IL had been proposed to try Mr.. Knapp on
the charge OF incit;ng Armenians 10 revolt
against the government. Almost daily ne
gotiations on the subject take place be-
tween the United States charge d affaires,
M Riddle, and the Turkish minister for
foreign affairs. but the matter is still MIS-
Understood and seems TO be assuming a
graver aspect as time passes.
Tne turkish government. however, has
not made any officia. statement regarding
the part taken in the affair By the local
authorities OF Bitlis, although an official
note has been issued denying that Mr..
Knapp is imprisoned a, Diarbekir and stas-
ing again that thore is no intention to ex-
peithe missionaries so long ls they COM
ply with the law Verbal explanations
nave been forthcoming from the porte but
the friends of the missionaries do not con-
sicer these explanations 10 be In any way
Satisfactory. Beside, II Is stated today
on good authority that the local officials Of
Fitiis received an order some time ago
from a high official to expel Mr.. Knapp.
ana II Is added that il is highly probable
the order would have been carried ont
long before the missionary was compel,-
ed 10 leave his post had IL not been for
the arrival at Moosh of the British vice.
consul, Mr.. Hanson. Tho latter Interested
himself In the case of the American mis-
s'onary' examined into the charges brought
against him and pronounced them to be
entirely eroundless, and SO Informed the
United states minister. who thereupon in
sisted that Mr.. Knapp should be tried in
MS presence at Constantinople
eventually II was agreed between the
Iurklsh government and Mr. Terrell that
Mr.. Knapp should leave Bitlis, "when the
ttate OF the roads permitted, or about the
END OF April" The missionary, however.
was forced by the authorities OF Bltiis to
ieaVe MS post before April l. when the
roads were so bad that his family was un-
able to accompany him. He is now report
ed to be near AlexaEdretta, and 1t Is fur
ther stated that the United States min
lister was notified, as agreed, OF the expul-
sen OF the American missionary from Bit
liz.
The missionaries place little faith In the
as5urance - the porte that 1t is rot tasend-
ed to expel them from Asia Minor. Some
pretext for their expulsion. they believe,
will be found whenever the porte deems Il
necessary. Such charge as consprsng
against the government Is usually made,
and can be established to the satisfaction
OF g. Turkish official looking for an oppor-
tunity to condemn a Christian.
The future Of the missionaries depends
upon Russia, and 1t is upon the Russian
government. and not the Turkish govern
ment. that influences have beer brought to
he In, n fas.tt tha Hya nd
erty OF the missionaries. The sultan IL
little more than a puppet In the hands OF
the car, and 1t is to the latter that the
governments OF the missionaries must turn
in this emergency. But will the czar re-
nounce his intention to Russianize Asa
Minor? This is question which the mis-
sionaries are now asking themselves.