The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-04-20
NEUTRALITY OF THIS NATION
A PROCLAMATION OF THE FACT
AMONG THE POSSIBILITIES.

of American Interests in Case
Emergencies Arise-Cablegrams
From Minister Terrell DeciDhercd.
American Protection of Greeks
Might Lead to Complications.
Washington, April 19.-The United States
navy is prepared to do all that IS neces-
sary for the protection of American inter-
ests in Turkey and Greece, though it is
not expected that that will be a very large
task. Admirai Selfrdge, the commander
of the European squadron consisting at
present of four warships. all in the East
ern Mediterranean, has been expecting an
outbreak of hostilities and from time to
time has advised the navy department of
the outlook. He is now under general in
structions to look after American inter-
ests and no attempt has been made or is
likely in the immediate future to give him
precise direction as to his conduct. The
movements of the vessels of the squad
ron will be left entirely to his discretion.
The department, believing that he being
at the seat of war, he Is better prepared
than any one here to act to the best ad-
vantage. The first sign that the admiral
has begun the disposition of his little
squadron to meet the war epoch was the
receipt of a cablegram at the navy de-
partment to-day announcing the arrival of
the United States cruiser Minneapolis at
Syra. This is an island In the Greek ar
chipelago, lying at the foot of the Aegian
sea and at a point almost equally dis
tant from Crete and Athens, and the en-
trance to the Dardanelles, so that it is
admirably selected in the Judgment of
the department officials as a place of OBJ
servatiOn and a base of action in either
may be needed.
The officials of both the state and navy
departments however. have little appre-
hension for the il-treatment of American
citizens in either Turkey or Greece,
which is regarded as about the only poss-
BILE cause of friction now. Possibly a a
later stage in the war, In the event that
| the Turks are defeated, there may be riot
ing a Constantinople or some of the larg
er Turkish cities, but that is not feared
at present.
The Turkish minister Moustapha Bey.
has communicated with Secretary Sher-
man on the status of TurkO-Grecian con-
| hict He officially informed the American
| Secretary of State of the termination Of
| diplomatic relations between Turkey and
| Greece and of the attitude of the offense
| which Turkey had been compelled to take
| by reason of the aggressive course of
| Greece It was expressly made known,
|
| been issued Until this official step is
taken the hostilities along tie frontier
| are regarded in the light of preliminary
| movements, designed to secure strategic
| positions, but not constituting war as con-
| tempated by a formal declaration of war.
| Until this declaration is made the United
| States government is likely to give official
| recognition to the existing state of affairs
| by an announcement of neutrality or such
| other step as the authorities may regard
| as necessary to safeguard American in
| terests.
1t has been suggested that the President
| will probably be called upon to issue
| proclamation of neutrality now that war
has begun between Turkey and Greece.
| The officials have looked into the prece-
! dents in such cases and have concluded
| that the conditions at present do not re-
quire the issue of such notice. The pur-
| pose of a neutrality proclamation is to
/ guard American citizens against the con-
| sequences Of infraction of the neutrality
| imposed upon nations not parties to a war.
1t does not directly concern either of the
| contestants, but it is intended to warn
American citizens that If they espouse the
| cause of either combatant they will alb
| solve their own country from extending
| protection to them Conditions may arise
later on. it is said, at the state department
warranting the issue of a proclamation,
! but the Americans in Turkey and Greece
| are so few in number and are of such char
| acter as to make it unlikely that they will
involve themselves in trouble.
1t is noted here with curiosity that the
cablegrams so far received are SO con-
hicting on one point. namely whether war
has or has not been formally and officially
declared, that it is not yet possible to de-
eide what the state of affairs is. The COM
mon belief In diplomatic circles IS that
there has been no such thing as a formal
declaration of war, and ii is recalled that
of late years it has become rather the rule
than the exception to make no formal dec
laratiOn. The powers have given notice
that the nation that is the aggressor in
the conflict will not be permitted to reap
any advantage from war. While Tur-
key 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 affecting
the Judgment Of the powers
The President is taking an active in
terest in the struggle between the Turks
and Greeks, and Is being constantly adj
vised by the department Of state as to the
latest developments IN the war. He wish
es to ensure the adoption of all proper
and usual precautions for the protection
of American interests in the Mediterra-
mean. Secretary Sherman came over 20
the white house this afternoon, and the
President imfnCulalely ieLL All business 10
confer with his premier on the subject.
II may be that within a short time some
question will arise that will involve action
OF some sort on our part, arising perhaps
from attempts by both Turks and Greeks
to blockade each others ports. which pos
slby might interfere with tho introduc-
tlon Of some American products, but at
present this is a remote contingency.
None Of Minister TerrelFs cablegrams
so far received verify the assumption that
he has undertaken the protection of the
Greeks. resident in Turkey. and II Is now
believed that the basis was misinter-
preted cabegram. On the whole the au-
thorltles are glad that the report is not
supported. for though such request could
not be well declined. Il IS remembered that
our ministers IN China and Japan, and the
state department as wen. became involved
IN a mess when they undertook the pro-
lection Of the Chinese and japanese
through the killing Of several japanese
students. and there Is always risk that
trouble may follow the assumption OF
such responsibility
Admiral seifrldge has cabled the Sec
retnry or the Navy "A request 60 have the
4HI.. I'D