The Indianapolis journal., 1897-04-20
Little Probability that PrOclama ton
of Neutrality VIII he Issued In
less Complications Arise.
MESSAGES FROM MR.. TERRELL
CONFIRMING REPORTS OF THE
TURKISH NINISTRY'S ACTION.
Views Of Ex-Minister to Greece snow.
den-He Fears the HeIlenes VIII
suffer Sore Defeat.


WASHINGTON. April 1s-The outbreak
of hostllties between Turkey and Greece
has aroused the livelest interest here in
diplomatic. army and navy circles. The
President and Secretary Sherman were in
consultation several times this afternoon. 1t
is gathered unofficially that they had under
consideration a telegram from Minister Ter
rell, at Constantinople, regarding the pro-
lection of American interests and the pro-
/ lection of Greek subjects which have been
introduced to our minister TO the Porte
| Secretary of the Navy Long was also with
| the President.
| 1t has been suggested that the President
| probably will be called on to issue proc
lamation of neutrality now that war has
| begun. The officials have looked into the
| precedents in such cases and have con-
| cuded that the conditions at present do
| not require the issue of such notice. The
purpose of a neutrality proclamation is TO
guard American citizens against the con-
sequences of infraction of the neutrality
imposed on nations not party to a war. 1t
does not directly concern either of the bel
ligerents but is intended TO warn Amer
lean citizens that if they espouse the cause
of either combatant they will absolve their
them. Conditions may arise later on, it is
said at the State Department. warranting
the issue of proclamation, but the Amer
leans in Turkey and Greece are so few
in number and are of such character as to
make it unlikely that they will involve
themselves in trouble.
II is noted here with curiosity that the
cablegrams so far received are SO conflict
ing on one point, namely, whether war has
not been formally and officially
declared, that ii is not yet pos
sible to decide what the state Of af-
fairs is. The common belief in diplomatic
circles is that there has been no such thing
as a formal decaration of war, and it is re-
called that of late years it has become
rather the rule than the exception to wage
war actually without a formal declaration
In the present case, however, the fact is
regarded among diplomats of the first
Importance for the reason that the powers
have given notice that the nation that is
the aggressor in the conflict will not be
permitted to reap any advantage from a
war. While Turkey may be strongly armed
with evidence going to show that Greece
has been the aggressor. still if she herself
has been the first to declare war formally
that fact must have technical weight IN
NO DECLARATION OF WAR.
The Turkish minister Moustapha Bey
has communicated with Secretary Sherman
on the status of the conflict. He officially
informed the secretary of state of the ter
mination of diplomatic relations between
Turkey and Greece and of the attitude of
offense which Turkey had been compelled
to take by reason Of the aggressive course
of Greece. 1t was expressly made known
however, that no declaration of war had
| been issued Until this official step is TAX
en- the hostlities along the frontier are re-
garded in the light of preliminary move
ments. designed to secure strategic posi-
tions. but not constituting war contem-
plated by formal declaration of war. 1t is
omats that the actual collisions which have
been begun the border will compel the
European powers to renew with greater
energy the effort to avert long and bloody
contest.
The United States navy is prepared to do
all that Is necessary for protection of
pected that that would be very large task.
Admiral Seltridge, the commander of the
European squadron, consisting at present
of four war ships. all in the eastern Med
iterranean. has been expecting an outbreak
of hostilities. and from time TO time has
advised the Navy Department of the
look He is now under general instructions
to look after American interests and no al
tempt has been made. or is likely in the
rections to his conduct. The movement
of the vessels of the squadron will be left
entirely to his discretion, the department
believing that as he is at the seat of war
he Is better prepared than any one here to
act to the best advantage. The first sign
that the admiral has begun the disposition
of his little squadron to meet the war
epoch. was the receipt Of ,cabegram al
the Navy Department to-day announcing
the arrival of the United States cruiser
Minneapolis at Syra. This is an island i'm
the Greek Archipelago. lying at the foot
equally distant from Crete (where war has
been actually going on for weeks). Athens
and the entrance TO the Dardanelles. so
that IL is admira bly, selected in the judg-
ment of the department officials a place
of observation and base of action in
either direction where an American war
ship may be needed. The officials of both
the State and Navy Departments. how
ever. have little apprehension of the ILL.,
Turkey or Greece. which Is regarded az
about the only possible cause of friction
in the event that the Turks are defeated.
there may be rioting at Constantinople or
some of the larger Turkish cities but thar
is not feared at persent
VIEWS OF THE ARMY OFFICERS.
The progress OF hostilities is being
watched with the keenest interest in mil
itary circles here. Already there has been
great demand for accurate maps of the
scene of the first outbreak and this has
been responded 10 by the military informa-
ton bureau by giving orders for the prep
aration of such map was issued dur
ing the war between China and Japan. a
publication OF great value to the studenr
of war. II may be said that while the
sympathes OF the army officers lie largely
with the Greeks, they fully expect that the
Turks will prevail In the end IL allowed,
to wake war untrameled by the interfer-
to indicate that such an arrangement has
been reached by the principal military and
naval powers of Europe as will make this
1 possible. The War Department experts say
| that Turkey. Oh paper at least has one OF
the most formidable armies in the worla.