The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1897-04-18
May Serve as the Spark to Start the
ConfIagration Through All Europe
Expressions General That the
United States Could Not be Drawn
Into the Conflict, and That the
Course of This Country Was Plain
in Preserving Strict Neutrality.

Associated Press were taken to the
White House and to members OF the
Cabinet, leading diplomatic represent
atives and the Chairmen of the For
eign Affairs Committees in Congress,
so that those most interested in the
event received early information OF the
gravity which the situation has as
sumed.
The expressions were general that
the United States could not be drawn
into the conflict, and that the course
of this country was plain in preserving
neutrality. 1t was felt on all hands
among officials that the. real gravity
of the announcement was in the pros
pect that it would serve as the spark
to start the confiagration through ali
Europe.
Secretary Sherman was seen at MS
residence tonight and shown the bulle-
tins.
1T is no surprise to me-" said the
Secretary of State, ''as recent events
have seemed to make war inevitable,
and [ have expected that result TO come
Fortunately, the scene of the reported
conflict is far from US, and the Onlleu
States has little or no concern with
the war. We will, of course, observe
the strictest neutrality as between the
parties This is a natural result from
the conditions prevailing, and Will re-
uuire no specific declaration OF neu-
trality. Our commercial interests with
Greece and Turkey are very small, SO
that there is no ground for disturbance
in that connection. Last year our ex-
ports to Greece amounted to only
S629. 721, an insignificant sum, barely
/ per cent as compared with the total
exports. Turkey exported to the United
States 81, 619000 last year, showing
similar lack of important commercial
dealings between the United States ana
Turkey That being the case, our COM
mercial. geographical and political $50
lation from those countries is quite free
from any possible enlargement in the
conflict"
Mr.. Shernans attention was called
to reports some time since that the
United States warship Bancroft might
be guardship to United States Minister
Terrin at Constantinople, and the Sec
rotary was asked if the war was likely
70 renew the occasion for warShip in
the Golden Horn.
There has been no talk of late" said
he and | see no occasion for any
change in affairs
Senator Davis, Chairman of the Sen
ate Committee on Foreign Relations,
read the bulletins with great interest,
and in response to a request for state
ment, said:
The attitude of the United States
will. of course, be one Of neutrality and
of
war can have little direct effect upon
US. as our interests are so small in that
part of the world. But it is of pro-
found interest to Europe, and l fear
it is but the first step toward a conflict
involving all Europe 1t is almost GER
tain to result, unless a quick and de-
cisive victory is achieved by one side
or the other"
Mr. Davis was asked if Greece nad
the material resources to carry on an
energetic war. He said:
The strength of Greece is much
greater than is thought. They have
/ 900 600 people. and this would PROB
ably include a fighting force OF about
100 600 men. But the Greek popula-
ton is very extensive outside of Greece,
and it is made up of a devoted, loyal
and enthusiastic people. 1t extends all
through Asia Minor and into Turkey.
There are the Greek colonies in Eu-
rope. as well as the former Turkish
countries of Montenegro and Servia.
which have been very restless and
threatening of late
The Turkish Minister. Moustapha
Bey. received the representative of the
Associated Press at the Turkish Lega-
ton tonight. and read with great in
terest dispatches from Constantinople.
Up to that time (midnighD the Minis
ter had no official dispatches, but he
was emphatic in stating that Turkey
was exhausting every possible means
of averting war.
Representative Hit, Chairman of the
House Committee on Foreign Affairs
during the last Congress, and undoubted
Chairman of the new committee, read
the early dispatches from Constantine
pie. and then commented briefly on the
situation.
IN the event of war" said he, 1.-THE
duty of the United States would be
uIain TO maintain neutrality, and to
see that her treaty obligations are
maintained. The sympathy of our peo-
Die would be with Greece in this strug
gle. COMPARED with Turkey. she is
weak in military resources, but the
Greeks are strong beyond their Dor
ders. and there is a large Greek popu-
lation within Turkey. Our people.
while sympathizing with the disparage-
ment of strength, believe Greece can
only hope that the cause will appeal to
the strong Powers of Europe, and that
France and Great Britain will come to
her rescue. In the event of war, one of
the results would be to increase the de-
mand for our export products. Another
effect, doubtless. would be TO create a
stringeney in the European money
markets. with a tightening 70 Ameri-
can securities"
RELATIONS SEVERED.
WASHINGTON, April 1S.-The Turk
ish Minister has received a cablegram
from the Turkish Foreign Minister at
Constantinople confirming the Asso-
ciated Press dispatches that Turkey
had broken off all relations with Greece,
and had instructed the Turkish Com
mander-in- Chief to protect Turkish in
terests on the frontier
When seen at the legation at 2:30
o'clock this Sunday morning, the
Minister, in reply to question, made