The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1897-04-07
TURKS MUST
SETTLE UP |
Sultan'S Many Delays.
Mr.. FOSTER FOR AMBASSADORS !
The President Will Ask For Power TO Send
the Ex-Premier to Deal with the
Turks and Compel a Prompt
Settlement Of All Bx-
listing Claims.
Mr.. FOSTER FOR AMBASSADORS

the Armenans i'm the fan of 1895 is
being considered by the new admins
tration and probably will be put into
operation soon. President McKnley's
program contemplates the sending TO
Constantnople of Hon. John w. Foster,
former secretary OF state, as a special
envoy, with the rank Of ambassador
to secure from the sultan the pay
ment of the claims which have been
filed, and the speedy trial Of those
American citizens against whom
charges have been made by Turkish
officials.
The president probably win send to
congress a message recommending
that authority be given him to COM
mission a special ambassador to Tur-
key for this purpose. and while no
name will be proposed by the mes
sage Mr. Foster win be entrusted with
the mission In the event that congress
gives to the president the power which
he desires. Mr.. Foster has already
been asked to undertake the mission,
and, although he was at first reluctant
to accept it, he finally consented to do
SO on certain conditions.
The program has been under consid-
eratiCn for several days, and meets the
approval of leaders i'm congress of both
parties who have been consulted.
President Mckinley and Secretary
Sherman discussed the unsatisfactory
policy of the Turkish government
touching American claims soon after
the administration came into power.
1t was suggested first that the repre-
sentative 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
Of them that a mission once advanced
to a.mbassadorial ranks could not well
be reduced afterwards. Moreover, MIR,
Foster did not care to accept such an
office.
Under the proposed arrangement Mr.,
Foster may be sent to Turkey when the
resignation of Minister rerrill is ac-
cepted, to serve there as envoy extra
ordinary, with the rank Of ambassador,
until his work has been performed,
and then give place to the minister
who win be appointed as Mr.. TerriPs
successor. No reflection upon the abil-
tiles of Minister Terrill will be in
volved in this plan, for any representa-
tive with the rank of minister works
under a heavy handicap at a capital
where all the large powers and sew
eral of the smaller ones are represented
by ambassadors.
Several questions are at issue be-
J tween the United States and Turkey
as a result of the Armenian troubles.
/ Claims amounting to $50 600 have been
/ presented to Minister Terrill on oc-
count of the damages done to the Eu-
/ pirates college at Harpoot, which is
the property of the American board of
foreign missions, to the Marash Theo-
logical seminary and the residence oi
an American Missionary at Hasquey q
suburb of Constantlnople.
Remonstrances have been made OF
account of the treatment Of Rev. G. p
Knapp, an American missionary, VIII,
was stationed at Bitlis and was ex
PEELED from the Turkish empire on
charge of melting Armenians to re
bellion. Mr.. Knapp has been unabl
to secure admittance 20 Turkey or t,
secure a trial, although it is elaine,
that his Punishment without trial is n
violation of treaty rights The de
portation Of another missionary work
ing for the American board, Mr.. Nc
Callum, was admitted at the time MI
Knapp was deported, but when ST
Philip Currie, the British ambassador
learned that he was a citizen of Can
ada he made such vigorous representa-
ttOns to the sublime porte that tn
missionary was escorted back to hi
post. Mr. Knapp is now waiting Fl
Berlin for permission to return. Simi
lar charges to those against him wer
preferred against other missionaries
who We're not expelled, but they haV
r not been brought to trial.
The sultan has refused to recogniz
Messrs. BerghOlz and Hunter who tW
+ years ago We're sent by the Unite
5 States as consuls to Erzroum and Ha1
poot. They reached their posts afte
some trouble, but being unable to SO
cure recognition or perform their dut
j as consuls they withdrew, and a fe,
. months afterward occurred the dis
turbances at Harpoot i'm which tn
American college was looted and proT
q erty worth 100000 destroyed. Nj
4 Bergholz has since returned to Err
"a rOum, but has not been recognized. n
apology or explanation has been of
2 fered, nor any redress given for an
of these acts President cleveland an
Secretary Olney at one time considere
the adyisabIity of blockading the pol
of SMYRNA TO secure redress. bu
abandoned the idea, partly because tn
revenues of the custom house wer
mortgaged to European government
The new administration desires to g,
cure the payment of the claims fr
damages referred to by Mr. Terrlu.
secure trials for Mr.. Knapp and otht
Americans against whom charges hay
been made, TO gain permission for M
Knapp to return TO his post and
have the consuls who have been a,
credited to Turkish cities recognized.