The Wichita tribune., 1898-09-24
ABDUL HAN|D A DIPLOMAT.
Ex-MInister Angel Says He Is Not
the "Sick Man of Europe"
SULTAN WON'T PAY DAMAGES.
Says He Is Not Responsible for Destrnc.
tion of Missionary Property-Can Col
1ect Only by Force-He Is Crafty and
Plays Powers Against Each Other.

NEW YORK, Sept. 25.-The New York
Tribune says: President J. 3. Angel
OF the University of Michigan, who for
more than year has been the United
states minister to Turkey, was among
the passengers on the Teutonic vester-
day. Mr.. Angel, who has been sue
ceeded in Turkey by Oscar Strauss, re-
signed his position to renew his ad
mlnlstration of the university of which
ne is the head. Mr.. Angell was un-
successful IN securing the payment of
the American claims upon the Turkish
government. On the journey across
the Atlantic he was frequently in con-
ference with Colonel Hay aud took ad-
vantage, undoubtedly of the opportun-
1ty to fully inform the new secretary
OF state of the situation existing in
Turkey 1t is well known that it is
the desire of the President that the
claims against the Porte shall be set
tied as promptly as possible and the
information which Mr.. Angel will be
able to impart to the government will
be extremely valuable in the effort to
compel the sultan to make good the
damages inflicted upon the Americans
living in Turkey
In the course of a conversation Mr..
Angel said There is little new that
can say regarding the situation in
Turkey. Perfect tranquility prevailed
while L was there, and no massacres
occurred in Armenia nor in the Bal
kans"
Is it true that the United States
intends to enforce the payment of it's
claims by denonstra ton of force ?"
Mr.. Angel was asked
II have not heard it," he replied,
we made these claims, as did the
other powers, for damages inflicted by
'he Turks upon our missionaries. The
sultan, however, reH-7ses to recognize
these claims and denies his RESPONSE
ollity upon plea that is unsatisfac.
'ory to the powers and to the United
states Whether an attempt will be
made to collect these claims by force
II arms or demonstration is matter
or the government alone to decide. 1
Zone thing I would like to lay stress {
- |
erent from the European demands. 4
he Europeans suffered their damages 4
h general mob riot, but our claims a
or damages rest upon much stronger
asls. The property of the Americans |
'as destroyed, not in a general riot,
ut by soldiers who were put to guard +
he property and who were conse-
uently the agents of the government.
While he was in Turkey Mr.. Angel "
'equently saw the sultan. Describ- a
lg him he said: THE sultan is a man tt
decided ability, possesses great al
lrewdness and plays his policy we'll tt
pltting the jealousy of one nation g
'ainst another Every one comedies tt
at he is an able man. He is the Is
'vernor of his people and the most st
'solute despot in the world. It is he
no rules, not his cabinet Since the w
eek war his power over his subjects ca
S increased tremendously He is CO
nsidered by his people to be the m
llglous head of the nation as well as Ii
head OF the army. The soldiers are
MahOmetans and no one of any
her religion can enter the army of
rkey excepting foreign officers, es- Luz
'ially chosen by the sultan.
There will be no religious war in ~
rkey while the powers are watch ""
:. The sultan has too much cum III
lg to precipitate trouble Turkey "a
scarcely be called under the sick as as
n of Europe after the impetus V'''
en- to the country by the Greek o. o.
r. 1t is now possessed of a power 70"
army, fully 100000 we'll equipped sa,,
n. They have been drilled to mod to
tactics by German officers and 4
If weapons are of the most i'm Ca,
we'd and modern make The sultan cru
tched the war between Spain and ant
United States very closely and the
'ression made by our navy won his
oect and admiration He often
Ike to me about our cannon and ADO
os and he may, in the near future,
er some ships built here.
Supposing that the claims against w. ro'
key should be pressed. would it's
tsury be able to meet them?" i'o
Well, you see, a bankrupt has an rei
antage. He can pay nothing and LAY
the rest, was Mr. Angel epi- ",i
matte answer. o'
he claims for which damages are
ted by Americans are for the g.
ming of mission property at Har- 49,
two years ago The American I'VE ~
ege was destroyed with loss of Nat
BOO and considerable other mission was
'erty was ruined Gerl
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