The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-04-07
TURKEY MUST PAY
President Mckinley Proposes
the Inauguration
Of a Vigorous Policy Regarding
Turkish Claims.
NO MORE THRILLING.
Previous Demands Made By
This Government
To Be Insisted on Through a
Special Ambassador.

Washington, April THE adoption
of a vigorous policy to secure from the
turkish government a settlement of the
claims preferred by the United States
on account Of the destruction of Amer
lean missionary property and outrages
to- American missionaries committed
during the uprising against the Armen-
1ans in the fall of 1885, is being cOnsid-
cred by the new administration, and
probably will be put in operation.
President McKinley's programme con-
templates the sending to COnstantinople
OF John W. Foster, an envoy with the
rank of ambassador, to secure from the
sultan the payment of the claims which
have been filed and the speedy trial of
those American citizens against whom
charges have been made by the Turk
iSh officials.
The president will probably send to
congress a message recommending that
authority be given him to commission
a special ambassador to Turkey for that
purpose, and while no name will be pro-
posed by the message, Mr.. Foster Will
be entrusted with the mission in the
event that congress gives to the presi-
dent the power which he desires. Mr..
Foster has already been asked to I'M
dertake the mission, and although he
was at first reluctant to accept, he final
~ consented to do SO on certain condi-
tions
The programme has been under con-
sideratiOn for several days and meets
both parties who have been consulted,
among them Senators Hoar and Lodge
of MasSa chusetts, and Proctor of Yer
mont, who have interested themselves
actively in the matter, also Senators
Morgan of Alabama, and Mills of Tex
as, Speaker Reed and Representative
Hit, the leader Of the house in diplo-
matte matters.
President Mckinley and Secretary
Sherman discussed the unsatisfactory
policy of the Turkish government,
touching American claims soon after
the administration came into power. Tt
was suggested that the representative
of the United States be raised to the
rank of ambassador, and Mr. Foster be
given the Office, but this proposition had
several drawbacks; one, that a mission
once advanced to ambassadOriaI rank
could not we'll be reduced afterWard.
This government would not care to
maintain an ambassador at CONSTANT
nople, nor was 1t known that the sultan
would reciprocate.
Moreover, Mr.. Foster did not care to
accept such an office. Under the pro-
posed arrangement Mr.. Foster may be
sent to Turkey when the resignat ton of
Minister Terrell is accepted to serve
rank Of ambassador, until his work has
been performed and then give place to
the minister, who will be appointed as
Minister TerrellS successor. No ref1ec-
ton upon the abilities of Minister Ter
rel will be involved in this plan, for
any representative with the rank of
minister works under a heavy handi-
cap at a capital where all the larger
powers and several of the smaller ones
are represented by an ambassador. He
cannot secure an audience with the sui
tan as readily as can an ambassador
nor can he meet upon equal terms with
the ambassadors in the consideration of
questions relating to treaties which may
greatly affect American interests.
Several questions are at issue be-
tween the United States and Turkey as
a result of the Armenian troubles, and
adjustment of which the sultan has re-
fused or postponed from time to time.
"Reminiscences have been made on
account of the treatment of Rev. G.. P.
Knapp, an American missionary, who
was stationed at Bills and was ex-
PEELED from the Turkish empire on
charge of melting Armenians to rebel
lion.
Mr.. Knapp has been unable to secure
admittance to Turkey or to secure g,
trial although it is claimed that his
Punishment without trial is in violation
of treaty rights. The deportation of
another missionary of the American
board, Mr.. McCallum, was attempted at
the time Mr.. Knapp was deported, but
when Sir Phillip Currie, the British am
bassador, learned that he was a citizen
of Idaho, he made such vigorous rep
reservations to the sublime porte that
the missionary was escorted back to his
post. Mr.. Knapp is now waiting in
Berlin for permission to return.
Similar charges to those against him
who were not expelled, but they have
not been brought to trial
The sultan has refused to recognize
Messrs. BerghOlz and Hunter, who, two
years ago, were sent by the United
States as consuIs to Erzeroum and Har-
put. They reached their posts after
some trouble, but, being unable to Sc
cure recognition or perform their du-
ties as cOnsuls, withdrew, and a few
months afterward occurred the disturb
ances at Harput, in which the Ameri-
can college was looted and property
worth 500 600 destroyed.
Mr. Bergholz has since returned to
Erzeroum, but has not been recognized.
No apology or explanation has been Of
fered nor any redress given for any of
these acts
President Cleveland and Secretary Oh
ney at one time considered the advisa-
bility of blockading the port of Smyrna
to secure redress, but abandoned the
idea partly because the revenue of the
custom houses were mortgaged to Eu-
rOpean governments. The new admin
istration desires to secure the payment
Of claims for damages preferred by Mr.
Terrell, to gain permission for Mr..
Knapp to return to his post, and the
recognition of consuIs who have been
accredited to Turkey
Members of the senate committee on
foreign relations and the Republican
leaders in the house who have been
consulted, are of the opinion that a bill
to authorize the president to send
special representative to Turkey would
not be opposed in congress.
To Repair Old Frigate Constitution.
Washington, April 7.-Secretary Long