The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1898-02-02
CLAIMS ON TURKEY AND SPAIN.
This Administrations Extremely Con-
stdera.e In Enforcing Them.

Claimants for indemnity from for
eign nations which require diplomatic
negotiation through the State Depart
ment have recently been, made To un-
derstand from official sources, that,
while demands are being energetically
pressed against all nations now enjoy
ing domestic peace, including those Of
Central and South America, as well as
most of the European powers, this
Government has no disposition to
threaten harsh measures TO secure the
prompt settlement O. ;uch accounts
with Spain or Turkey IA their present
embarrassment.
This information is coupled with an
explanation in regard 10 the Turkish
CLAIMS, whose payment Secretary Oh
ney peremptorily demanded two years
ago on account Of the burning of mis-
sionary property and the American col
lesG buildings at Harpuot and Marash.
III Is said that Turkey has evinced a
Willingness To settle these damages as
soon as the bank account of the Porte
may warrant any drafts whatever up
on II. But the time for this is not yet
IN sight; consequently il is useless To
make promises.
The Cpited States has maintained a
large fleet in the Mediterranean TO
seize the first opportunity to compel
payment for outrages on American
teachers during the Armenian atroci-
ties, but il has been recognized that
other powers had prior claims far ex-
ceeding those Of this country. and the
United state has been reluctantly
compelled To nme q more patient at
titudc. Thc Greek indemnity gave
some hope of settlement at least i'm
part. but the Administration finds
through Minister Angel that even this
indemnity is fully mortgaged; that il
would not satisfy one-fourth of the
judgments Turkey has already con-
fessed To Europeans, and, besides. the
Greeks do not be very for
ward about liua IT,
Minister Angefi - IrT1 more or less of
a quandary over the situation, for he
has made considerable sacrifices 10 go 10
Constantinople to secure payment Of
these claims. He took only a years
leave OF absence from the presidents
chair of the UniHc.1s = of Michigan
A provoking delay arose by reason Of
the Turks considering him persona non
grata. and now his mission is threat
ened with failure because of the gen.
eral Ottoman insolvency.
The precedent of leniency forced
+, upon this Government at the eastern
extremity of the Mediterranean oper-
ates effectively at the western ttrance
of that sea, and Spain is tn. BY en-
abled To ask an extension of time for
the consideration of the numerous de-
mands growing out of the instruction
in Cuba. Many Of these relate to sums
demanded for Imprisonment, but the
most important are for the destruc-
tiCn Of plantations and crops by the
belligerents, whose beliigerency. how
ever. neither the United States nor any
other nation has recognized. The lat
ter class of claims has not been pressed
at all as yet, and the plantation own
ers. who are Independently wealthy.
have sided with Spain and constituted
the most powerful influence in this
country against Executive recognition
of the insurgents or American inter-
vention. particularly during the last
Administration. The claims for which
the strongest pressure has lately been
brought on the State Department for
prompt settlement are those involving
aome sentimental consideration, which
are confessedly the most difficult TO es-
fabliSh