Omaha daily bee., 1896-04-10
.RUSSTA'S HAND MANIFEST
Greek Priests to Take the Place Of The
Present Missionaries.
REV. MR.. KNApP's EXPULSION AGREED UPON
Asserted that Minister Terrell AS
scented to the Proposal 10 Re-
move the missionary from the
Interior 10 the Coast.

CoNSTANTINOPLE, April S.-(via Sofia,
Bulgaria, April 9)-It now appears. accord
ing to a semi-oGicial statement. that the
Turkish government bases It's action in ok
polling or allowing the expulsion by local
authorities Of Bills OF the American mis-
s~ionary Rev, Mr.. George 7. Knapp, on an
understanding reached between the Porte and
United States Minister Terrell. 1t is added
that it was agreed between the government
and MIR. Terrell that Rev. Mr.. Knapp was to
leave Bitlis on April !, and when the mis-
sionary took no steps to depart the local
officials Of Bitlis politely invited him to leave.
At that time. 1t is also said. the United
States charge d'affaires, Mr.. John w. Riddle,
had no official explanations on the subject.
Rev. Mr.. Knapp has left Dlarbeklr for
Aleppo, and from there, unless the plans of
the Turkish government are interfered with,
the American missionary will be invited"
to go to Alexandretta, in order that he may
embark upon a steamer there.
1t is generally believed here that the ex-
pulsion of Rev. Mr.. Knapp is only the first
step taken by the sultan in the direction Of
expelling all Protestant and Catholic mis-
sIonaries, as well as the agents of the Ameri-
"a INSu SlCSS SOCltNN lIDUl armenia
There are several reasons given for this
movement. but the affair may be summed
up in the statement that there is no doubt
that Russia and Turkey are alarmed at tho
effect of the work of the missionaries in
Armenia and elsewhere. and that it has
practically been decided that they are to be
expelled under some excuse or other in order
to make way for priests of the Russian
church. This is believed to be the basis of
the understanding Tor secret treaty. arrived
at between Russia and Turkey, when the
fleets of the powers had assembled in the bay
of Salonica. and the question Of %coercing
Turkey by a display of naval strength before
Constantinople had been almost decided upon.
According to the explanation furnished here
of the sultan's present attitude toward the
missionaries, the threatening attitude of the
powers at that time threw Turkey into the
arms Of Russia, and the latter. after dictat-
ing her terms. caused the breakup of the
European combination against the Turkish
empire, and by refusing to take part in any
such demonstration and by threatening to
protect the sultan by force of arms If neces-
sary. Hence the assembling of the Russian
Black sea squadron in readiness for immediate
action and the gathering of Russian army
corps on the frontiers of Asiatic Turkey.
Russia. 1t is now asserted. cleverly took ad-
vantage of the desperation of the sultan to
obtain a virtual protectorate over Armenia.
WORK BEGUN CAUTIOUSLY.
But such a step openly taken would in all
probability have led to serious trouble.
1t was decided to begin the Rus
Of Asiatic Turkey by getting rid of
the Protestant and Catholic missionaries and
to substitute priests of the Russian church.
A plausible ~pretext, however, had to be found
for such an important move, and 1t was
agreed that the work of the missionaries
should be pointed to as being of a disquieting
nature and as likely to incite the Armenians
to rebellion. This was to be followed by
closely watching the most active of the mis-
and to prepare the groundwork for
against them Of encouraging the Ar
to revolt against the sultan's rule.
During the last series of massacres in Ar
menia 1t was continually claimed that the
uprisings were the work Of the Armenian
evolutionary agents. Lately, however, since
the collapse of the proposed naval demonstra-
lion, as a result of the secret agreement ar
rived at between Turkey and Russia, it has
been whispered" in the right quarters that
the missionaries were at the back of the
evolutionary agents; that to the mission
lries should be traced the real cause of the
and upon them should fall the blame
or the bloodshed by the Turks in suppress
ng disorder" Such an argument is classed
Is being well worthy of Turkish diplomacy
md eastern cunning in general, and it could
lot fail to excite the Turks against the mis-
Finally it was decided to begin with Rev.
Mr.. Knapp. who has probably been the most
Jealous of all the active workers in the cause
If Christianity in Asiatic Turkey, and he was
eventually openly charged with melting the
Armenians of Bitlis to revolt and was to have
1een tried by the local court there on the
'harge of high treason. People familiar with
he methods of the Turks have not the slight
,st doubt that the Armenian missionary
would have been found guilty and that al
eyed proof would have been furnished not
of his guilt, but of the guilt of the mis-
as a body. Here it was that the
United States minister interfered and the
land of the Turk was stayed for a while.
But, as now clearly shown, Mr.. Knapp is
icing expelled from Asiatic Turkey and no.
,ody here doubts that this is only the first
II a series of such explosions which will end
With driving all the American, British and
french missionaries out of Turkey, at the
Instance of Russia and in accordance with
he ~latter's policy of beginning the Russian
zing of Asiatic Turkey.
SULTAN GIVES ASSURANCES.
The steps taken in behalf of the mission
.ries in Asia Minor have had a benefcent
fleet. The Turkish government today, re-
lying to the renewed representations on the
uhject made by the British ambassador,
,lr Phillip Currie, and the United States
barge d'affaires. John w. Riddle, assured
he diplomats that the missionaries in Asia
iinor would not be molested 80 long as
hey conform with the law of the country"
this assurance does not carry with it
he weight which it would in coming from
ny other government, 1t is asserted, as
here Is no question but that the Turkish
tficials have been trying to prove that the
Missionaries are not Conforming with the
avs of the country" and it was on this
round that the sultan prepared and probably
igned the trade providing for their expulsion
rom the Turkish dominions. But the pub
lefty given to the matter in the press dis
atches has certainly caused a hesitation at
he palace. and 1t is now thought likely the
will be withheld. at least until Russia
las been further consulted on the subject.
I Russia says the missionaries are not to be
Xpelled the trade will not be made public.
IN the other hand, If Russia thinks herself
trong enough to proceed with the work o.
Outstanding Asiatic Turkey the trade may
Don see the light of day.
iAPTIZED A RUSSIAN PRINCESS.
'rince of Wales Omcintes M One of
the sponsors.