Evening star., 1897-03-22
That Mission Said to Have Been
offered Ex-Secretary Foster.
WANTS IT MADE An EMBASSY
Reasons Given Why He Might Ac.
cept the Position.
TO SERVE TION

The eastern question takes on a new in
terest over here just now because of a
rumor respecting the mission to Turkey.
This rumor is that the mission has been
rendered to ex-Secretary John w Foster,
and that he has the matter under advise
ment. The refusal of General Foster to
discuss the rumor seems to encourage some
belief in it. When his attention was called
to an earlier story connecting his name
with the mission to China, he promptly
denied that
To Raise the Mission.
accept the mission if the post is raised to
the dignity of an ambaSsadorship The
President Is said to favor this. But the
question rests with Turkey. If the sultan
for any reason should decline to bestow
upon his representative here a correspond
ing promotion, the American represent l.
tive at Constantinople would continue 20
occupy the present grade of minister.
The reason offered in support of the
change is that in the divisions of the diplo-
matte service at Constantinople a minister
counts for very little. No matter what
the talents deserts of the incumbent of
the office may be, his minor grade of office
renders him in great measure powerless.
Ambassadors alone have what in the YER
nacular is called the pull" Side doors and
prOach, and they alone are able by virtue
of their office to get hearing at any time
for their business But even ambassadors
in Turkey, as has of late frequently been
demonstrated, have no great powers. Still,
as is suggested, it would be well to have
the United States occupy there one of the
front seats.
Why He Might Accept.
Naturally, there is some speculation as to
Why Gen. Foster should be willing to ac
cept this post when he has expressed an
Indifference to others, assuming the rumor
of his Willingness to accept 1t to be true.
He has enjoyed many diplomatic honors.
He has been minister to Mexico, Spain and
Russia; he negotiated several of the i'm
portant commercial conventions that grew
out of the reciprocity clause of the Nc
kinley tariff bill, and his reward for this
was the state portfolio when Mr.. Blaine
laid it down. He was the adviser of China
In the peace negotiations with Japan, and
was accredited with getting his client
falrly well out of a very awkward pred ca
ment. He is In Independent circumstances
has charming home here in Washington.
and enjoys life. Why, in such circum-
stances. should he care to go to Turkey, it
Is asked, and take hand in the difficulties
Of eastern diplomacy? s--- -.
May Aid Chrfstianfty,
Gen. Fosters own silence on the subject I
is the excuse for the answers that come
from other sources.
Gen. Foster in religious circles is a rec
ognfzed authority on the subject Of the
condition of Christian people living in
heather countries He has not only given a
good deal of study to the subject but he
has personally made inspections At the
close of his service as Secretary of State he
made a tour of the world, travelling leisure
ly. and spent some time in Turkey. His in
Hestigations were thorough, and upon his
return home he delivered a number of ad-
dresses on the subject of foreign missions
their status and how greater growth might
be promoted. These lectures were compli-
mented as containing an unusually full
measure of information on the subject. The
suppostion, therefore, is that Gen Foster is
willing to take office where he can give 10
Christian civilization in Turkey the benefit
previous experience in public affairs.
To Serve Civilization.
The ambassadors to Turkey from Chris
tian nations have for years had their hands
full of business touching the rights of
Christian subjects of the sultan. They
have accomplished but little because of the
overshadowing political deals involved
In the territorial problems of the great
powers. But the end of this, it is by
many believed, cannot be far distant, and
when the end comes, an opportunity to
serve civilization in that quarter of the
globe will be altogether unusual and de-
sirable. And this, it is suggested is prob
ably the reason why the President is anx-
ious to have a first-rate man at that pos:
In frst-rate shape for serving the country,
and turns to General Foster with the offer.