The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-04-07
TURKS MUST SETTLE UP
The Administration Has Tired of the
Sultan's Many Delays.
MIR. FOSTER FOR AMBASSADOR.

The President VIII Ask For Power to
Send the Ex-Premier to Deal with
the Turks aud Compel Prompt Set
tlement Of All Existing Claims.
Washington. April 1.-THE adoption
of a vigorous policy to secure from
the Turkish government a settlement
OF the claims preferred by the United
states on account of the destruction
q OF American missionary property and
outrages to American missionaries
committed during the uprising against
the 4rmenians In the fall of 1895 is
being considered by the new adminis-
tration, and probably will be put into
operation soon. President McKinleys
program contemplates the sending to
Constantinople 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 will send to
congress a message recommending
| N'tS ei"hh''i1S NC blNcn lll1l 10 COM
mission special ambassador to Tur-
Key for this purpose, and while no
name will be proposed by the mes-
sage Mr.. Foster will be entrusted with
the mission in the event that congress
4 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 relustant
to accept it,=he finally eonsented-to do i.
SO on certain conditions.
The program has been under consd-
Grafton for several days. and meets the
approval of leaders In 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.
IL 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 mission once advanced
to ambassadorial ranks could not well
be reduced afterwards. Moreover, Mr.
roster did not care to accept such an
office.
Under the proposed arrangement Mr..
roster may be sent to Turkey when the
resignation Of Minister Terrill 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 will be appointed as Mr. Terrilps |
successor. No reflection upon the abil-
n tnt 81
volved in this plan, for any representa-
tive with the rank of minister works |
under 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-
tween the United States and Turkey
as result of the Armenian troubles.
Claims amounting to $150, 900 have been
presented to Minister Terrill on ac-
count of tho 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 of
an American Missionary at Hasquey, a
suburb of Constantinople.
Remonstrances have been made on
account of the treatment of Rev. G. p.
Knapp, an American missionary, who
was stationed at Bitlis and was ex-
PEELED from the Turkish empire on a
charge OF melting Armenlans to re-
bellion. Mr., Knapp has been unable
to secure admittance to Turkey or to
secure a trial, although 1t is claimed
that his Punishment without trial is in
violation of treaty rights The de-
portation of another missionary work.
ing for the American board, Mr.. Nc
Callum, was admitted at the time Mr.
Knapp was deported, but when Sir
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 the
missionary was escorted back to his
post. Mr. Knapp is now waiting in
Berlin for permission to return. SINH
lar charges to those against him were
preferred against other missionaries,
who We're 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 Erzroum and Har-
poot They reached their posts after ,
some trouble, but being unable to Sc ,
cure recognition or perform their duty !
as consuls they withdrew, and a few
months afterward occurred the dis
at Harpoot in which the
American college was looted and prop 7
erty worth 100000 destroyed. Mr.. ,
Bergholz has since returned to Erz- 9
'oum, but has not been recognized. No
apology or explanation has been Of n
sered, nor any redress given for any a
If these acts. President Cleveland and s
Olney at one time considered
he advisability of blockading the port
u SMYRNA to secure redress, but
tbandoned the idea, partly because the
'evenues of the custom house were 5
to European governments. |.
The new administration desires to Sc u
ure the payment of the claims for u
lamages referred to by Mr. Terrill, to
ecure trials for Mr.. Knapp and other
americans against whom charges have
een made, to gain permission for Mr.,
Knapp to return to his post, and to o
AVE the consuls who have been ac- "
redlted to Turkish cities recognized