The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-04-24

appointment of DIR. James B. Angel as
minister plenipotentiary and envoy ex-
traordinary to Turkey has considera-
ably greater significance than usually
attaches to the selection of representa-
tives from this to foreign governments.
IL the information of his intimate
friends and associates in the faculty OF
the University of Michigan, of which he
is President, be correct, DIR. Angel will
go to the Turkish capital with special
mission to perform, and that mission the
vigorous prosecution of the claims for
indemnity brought by American citizens
and American missionaries against the
Sultans government.
The appointment is supposed to mean
that President McKinley's administra-
ton intends to bring to speedy end the
dawdling negotiations that have been
dragging through many months with
reference to the payment of damages for
the destruction of lives and property of
American citizens and to make his Otto
man majesty feel the full responsibility
of a repetition of the outrages with
which his soldiers have insulted this ma
ton in the past.
SPECIAL interest is being taken by the
Washington authorities in the an
nouncement that the Greek government
has invoked the American minister at
Constantinople for protection OF its citi-
zens in Turkey. Secretary Sherman
has shown the correspondent of 1.-The
Times Herald" long cipher dispatch
which he had just received from Minis
ter Terrell. He assumed that this dis
patch relates to the declaration OF war
by Turkey and to the request OF the
Greeks for the protection OF the Ameri-
can flag. Its contents, however, will not
be definitely known until it is translated
at the department.
AS to the request that the American
minister at Constantinople be required
to look after the Greeks dom iciled in
Turkish territory. Secretary Sherman
said there could be no objection to Min
lister Terrell complying. He thought his
cipher dispatch probably requested in
structions in the matter. but even with
out such instructions he believed that
presidents would justify the minister in
giving protection to the Greeks in the
absence of a representative of their gov
eminent from that country. He said it
was a common practice fully recognized
by international law for foreign minis
ters when called upon to protect aliens
whose country was at war with that in
which they resided.
"Protection, however" said Secretary
Sherman, must necessarily be OF a
moral character, as Minister Terrell
would neither have accommodations at
the legation or the necessary force to
shield them from harm. There are
hundreds and perhaps thousands OF
Greeks in Turkish territory. The mere
fact, however, that the Greeks are under
the protection of the American flag with
the consent of the Sultan will doubtless
be sufficient protection for such alions
in the Turkish territory as may not con-
spire against the government.
II do not believe there is any danger
OF injury to American citizens in Turkey
or Greece. Minister Terrell has been
keeping sharp lookout in their inter-
ests for some time past and will con-
tinue to do 80. Minister Alexander also
has standing instructions which will
guide him in giving protection to Ameri-
cans in case they become involved in
trouble. This is contingency. however,
which l do not expect to see rise."