The record-union., 1897-04-07
CLAIMS AGAINST TURKEY.
PRESIDENT Mckinley TO ADOPT
A VIGOROUS POLICY,
A Special ambassador to be Sent to
ConstantinopIe to Insist Upon
Their Payment.

WASHINGTON, April 6-The adop-
ton of vigorous policy to secure from
the Turkish Government a settlement
of the claims preferred by the United
States on account of the destruction of
American missionary property and out
RACES to American missionaries COM
mitted during the uprising 1gt INST 4the
ArmenianS in the fall of 1895 is being
considered by the new administration,
and probably will be put into operation
soon.
President McKinley's programme con-
templates the sending to Constantine
pie of Hon. John w. Foster, former
Secretary of State, as a special 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 Turkish officials. The President
probably will send to Congress mess
age recommending that authority be
given him to commission a special EN-
bassador to Turkey for this purpose.
and while no name will be proposed
by the message, Mr.. Foster Will be in
trusted with the mission in the event
the power which he DESIRES Mr. Foster
has already been asked to undertake
the mission, and although he was at
first reluctant to accept he finally con-
scented to do so on certain conditions.
Under the proposed arrangement Mr..
Foster will be sent to Turkey when
the resignation of Mr.. Terrill is ac-
cepted, to serve there as Envoy Extra
<Nf II .l~<,<x
until his work has been performed, and
then give place to the Minister who
will be appointed as Mr. Terrilrs sue
cesSOr.
Several questions are at issue be-
tween the United States and Turkey as
a result of the Armenian troubles, the
solution of which the Sultan has re-
fused or postponed from time to time,
and which the administration desires
to settle. Claims amounting to $780,
600 have been presented by Minister
Terrill on account of the damages
done to the Euphrates College at Har-
poot which is the property of the
American Board of Foreign Missions;
to the Marash Theological Seminary
and the residence of an American mis-
sionary at Hasquey, suburb of Con-
stantinople. "Reminiscences have been
made on account of the treatment of
Rev. G. P. Knapp, an American mis-
sionary, who was stationed at Bitlis,
and was expelled from the Turkish
Empire ON charge of melting Armeni-
ans to rebellion
The Sultan has refused to recognize
Messrs. Bergholz and Hunter, who two
years ago were sent by the United
States as Consuls to Erzeroum and
Harpoot They reached their posts
after some trouble, but being unable to
secure recognition or perform their du-
ties as Consuls withdrew, and few
months afterward occurred the dis
turbance at Harpoot, in which the
American college was looted and prop
erty worth 100000 destroyed.
The new administration desires to Sc
cure the payment of the claims for
damages preferred by Mr.. Terrill, to
secure trials for Mr.. Knapp and other
Americans to gain permission for Mr..
Knapp to return to his post and have
the Consuls who have been accredited
to Turkey recognized. as the churches
of the country have made strong re-
quests that these things be done.
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. In
the House no legislation can be had
except by unanimous consent, or by a
special rule. Mr.. Hit said that there
would be no opposition to the bill on
the ground of expense, because the bill
would provide that the ambassador
should receive only the salary Of the
Minister to Turkey during the term
of his service