The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-09-23
TURKEY WILL NOT PAY
OUR CLAIM AGAINST THE PORTE
DISCUSSED by MIR. ANGELL.
An Armed Demonstration May BE Nee
essary to Bring the sultan to ResR-
ization of His Obligations.

NEW YORK. Sept. 22.-The Tribune SAYS:
President J. B. Angell of the University OF
Michigan, who for more than a year has
been the United States minister to Turkey,
was among the passengers on the Teutonic
yesterday. Mr.. Angel, who has been sue
ceeded in Turkey by Oscar r. Straus, re-
signed his position to renew his administra-
ton OF the university of which he is the
head 1rr Angel was unsuccessful in Sc
curing ne payment of the American claims
on tho turkish government, but on the
journey across the Atlantic he was fire.
quently in conference with Colonel Hay and
took advantage undoubtedly of the oppor-
tunity 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 settled as promptly as possible, and
the information which Mr.. Angel will be
able to impart to the government will De
extremely valuable in the effort TO compel
the Sultan to make good the damages in
fioted on Americans living in Turkey.
In the course of a conversation with q
Tribune reporter while the Teutonic was
making her way up the bay last night Mr..
Angel said: There is little new that can
say regarding the situation in Turkey Per-
feet tranquility prevailed while was there
and no massacres occurred in Armenia or
the Balkans"
rs it true that the United States intends
to enforce the payment Of its claims by
demonstration of force?' Mr.. Angel was
asked.
Il have not heard of it, he replied. 1--WE
made these claims, as did the other powers.
Tor damages inflicted by the Turks on our
missionaries. The Sultan, however. refuses
TO recognize these claims, and denies his
responsibility on plea that is unsatisfac-
tory to the powers and to the United States.
Whether an attempt will be made to collect
these claims by force of arms or a demon
stration Is matter for the government
alone to decide. When moral pressure was
brought to bear on him the Sultan declared
that the damages were the result of a mob
riot, and that. therefore, he is not RESPONSE
bic. Indeed, he has actually told the Euro
Tean powers that, instead of making claims
against him, he is entitled to indemnities
from them because Europeans shot and
killed Turkish soldiers from their houses.
One thing would like to lay stress on, and
that is that our claims are different from
the European demands. The Europeans
suffered their losses IN the course of general
riots by the mob. but our claims for dam
ages rest on much stronger basis. The
property of Americans was destroyed, not
in q general riot, but by the soldiers who
were put to guard that property. and who
ernment / placed that view before the
Sultan strongly. bur the answer he gave me
was the same as before, and he refused to
make any specific answer to the specific
matters which 1 laid before him. 1t seems
to me that an armed demonstration is the
only means whereby the Turkish govern
ment can be made to make the restitution
asked for
What will be the outcome of the Cretan
"Ah. the powers only wish you could tell
them," replied Mr.. Angel; but l observe
Whether Turkey will lose Crete or not it is
in. possible to say now, but If the powers
say she must she will have to rslinqUish it,
- II. alrr IT, 49, e.
quently saw the Sultan. Describing him he
said: The Sultan is a man of decided abil-
ity. possesses great shrewdness and plays
his policy well of pitting the jealousy OF
one nation against another. Every one con-
cedes that he is able man. He is the
lutte despot in the world. 1t is he who rules
in his Cabinet Since The Greek war his
power over his subjects has increased tre-
to be the religious lead of the nation as
well as the head of the army. The soldiers
are all Mchammedans, and no one Of any
other religion can enter the army of Tgr-
key, exec pting foreign officers practically
chosen by the Sultan, who is called by the
people since the war with Greece Caliph.
There will be nc religious war in Turkey
while the powers are watching. The Sui
tan has too much cunning to precipitate
trouble. Turkey can scarcely be called the
sick man of Europe after the impetus
given to the country by the Greek war. It
three hundred thousand wel-equipped men.
They have been drilled to modern tactics
by German officers, and their weapons are
of the most improved and modern make.
The Sultan watched the wsr between Spain
and the United States very closely, and the
impression made by our navy won his re-
spect ami admiration. He often spoke to
me about our Cannon and ships, and he may
in the near fLtuer order some ships built
here. told hin that the cannon and ships
were all right, but he would have to look
to the men behind the 81 ms. l said this be-
cause know the Turkish army although
thoroughly drilled, has but little firing prac-
tice, because money is devoted to that
purpose.
key should be pressed would its treasury
be able to meet them?"
well, you see. a bankrupt has an advan-
tage He can pay nothing and owe the
rest" was Mr.. Angels epigrammatic an
swer.