The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-04-07
A VIGOROUS POL1CY IN REGARD
TO AMERICAN CLAIMS DE-
CIDED UPON.
DELAY ENOUGH ALREADY.
MIR. FOSTER TO BE SENT AS SPE-
CIAL ENVOY TO THE
SULTAN.
CONSENT OF CONGRESS NEEDED
When 1t Is Obtained the Intention
Is to- Force Matters to
Speedy Issue.

WASHINGTON, April 6-The adop-
ton of vigorous policy, to secure
from the Turkish government a set
tlement Of the claims preferred by the
United States on account of the de-
struction Of American missionary prop
erty and outrages to American mission
aries. committed during the uprising
against the Armenians in the fall of
1895, is being considered by the new
administration, and probably will be
put into operation soon. President Nc
k1nleyS programme contemplateS the
sending to Constantinoule of Hon. John
w. Foster, former secretary Of state.
as a special envoy with the rank Of
am bassador, to secure from the sultan
the payment 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 will
send to congress a message recommend
ing that authority be given to commits
sion a special ambassador to Turkey
for this purpose, and, while his name
will not be proposed by the message,
Mr. Foster will 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, he finally consented to do
so on certain conditions.
The programme has been under con-
sideration for several days and meets
the approval of leaders in congress of
both parties who have been consulted;
among them Senators Hoar and Lodge,
and Proctor, of Vermont, who have in
terested themselves actively in the
matter; Senators Morgan, Of Alabama,
and Mills, Of Texas; Speaker Reed, and
Representative Hit, the leader in the
house in diplomatic matters
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 in Con-
Stant1nople be raised to the rank of
ambassador, and Mr.. Foster be given
the office, but this plan had several
drawbacks one Of them that a mission
once advanced to ambassadOrial rank
could not we'll be reduced afterward.
IhlS government would not care to
maintain an ambassador at CONSTANT
nople, nor was it known that the sui
tan would reciprOcate by accrediting
an ambassador to the United States.
Moreover, Mr.. 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 Terrell is
accepted, to serve there as envoy ex-
traordinary, with the rank of ambas-
sador, until his work has been perform
ed and then give place to the minister
who Will be appointed, as Mr. Terrell
successor. No reflection upon the abili-
ties of Minister Terrell will be involved
Ill this plan, for any representative
with the rank of minister. works under
a heavy handicap at a capital where
all the larger powers and several of
the smaller ones are represented by an
ambassador.
Several questions are at issue be-
tween the United States and Turkey,
as a result of the Armenian troubles,
the satisfactory adjustment Of which
the sultan has refused or POSTPONED.
from time to time, and which the adj
ministration desires to settle Claims
amounting to $4,000 have been pre-
scented by Minister Terrell on account
OF the damages done to the Euphrates
College at Harpoot, which is the prop
erty of the American Board Of Foreign
missions, to the Marash Theological
seminary and the residence of an
American missionary at Hasquey, a
suburb Of COnstantinople. Remon-
strances have also been made on ac-
count of the treatment of Rev. G. P
Knapp, an American missionary, who
was stationed at Bitlis and was expell-
ed from the Turkish empire on a charge
Of melting Armenians to rebellion.
Mr.. Knapp has been unable to secure ad-
mittance to Turkey or to secure a trial. al
though it is claimed that his Punishment
without trial is in violation Of treaty rights.
The deportation of another missionary work.
ing for the American board, Mr. McCulum
was attempted at the time Mr.. Knapp was
deported, but when Sir Philip Currie the
British ambassador learned that he was a
citizen OF Canada, he made such vigorous
representations to the sublime Porte that
the missionary was escorted back to his
post. Mr.. Knapp is now waiting in Berlin for
permission to return. Similar charges to
those against him were preferred against
other missionaries who were not expelled,
but they have not been brought to trial.
The sultan has refused to recognize Messrs.
BerghOlz and Hunter, who, two years ago,
were sent by the United States as consuls to
Erzeroum and Harpoot. They reached their
posts after some trouble, but being unable
to secure recognition or perform their duties
as consuls, withdrew. and few months af-
forwards occurred the disturbances at Har-
poot, in which the American college was
looted, and property worth 600 destroyed
No apology explanation has been offered
nor any redress given for any Of these acts
President Cleveland and Secretary OIney at
one time considered the admissibility Of
blockading the port Of Smyrna to Secure re-
dress, but abandoned the idea, partly because
the revenues of the customs house were
mortgaged to European governments
Since the Turkish question has been under
consideration, Mr.. Foster has been the only
man suggested the one best qualified 10
secure for the United States the same rights
accorded to other powers for their citizens in
Turkey. His abilities as a diplomat and a
lawyer, which were displayed in the state de-
partment, and more recently in the conduct
Of the negotiations for peace between Japan
and China, have been mentioned, and Secre-
tary Sherman, ex-Secretary Oiney and several
senators have advocated his appointment Mr.
Foster does not desire the mission, but has
indicated that he will take 1t as a matter OF
duty if called to 1T.
Members of the senate committee on foreign
relations and the Republican leaders Of the
house. who have been consulted are of the
opinion that bill to authorize the president
to send a special representative to Turkey
would not be opposed in congress. In the
house no legislation can be had except by
unanimous consent or by a special rule. Mr.
Hit has said that there would be no opposi-
ton on the ground of expense, because the
bill would provide that the ambassador should
receive only the salary of the minister to
Turkey during the term Of his service.