The evening times., 1898-10-04
DANGER AHEAD FOR TURKS
The Sultan Must Bow to Amer.
ica's Demands.
OUR CLAIMS SHALL BE PAID
The President Determines That the
Ottoman Empire Must Indemnify
American Missionaries for Losses
Incurred During the Armenian
AIassacres-The Issue Has Come.

turkey Is 10 De called upon 10 lnQenlfll-
fy American missionaries for the dam
ages sustained by their persons and
property as a result of riots during the
past three years.
This is the decision of the President
after careful consideration of the matter
with Secretary Hay. The Turkish gov
ernment recently announced that it
would pay none of the claims filed
against it by foreign governments for
injuries sustained by their citizens dur
ing riots, which occurred in Armenia,
and, when pressed for a specific answer
by DR.. Angel, disavowed its liability, on
the ground that every effort had been
made by Turkish officials to protect life
and property.
The reply was of such a character as to
strongly indicate that the Porte had no
intention of satisfying the claims be-
cause il did not consider them just Sec
retary Hay, while on his way TO Ameri-
ca from England, discussed the justice
OF the claims with DR.. Angel, who had
just returned from the duties of minister
al Constantinople. Secretary Hay also
had conference with Minister Straus,
who succeeded DR.. Angel. Immediately
upon his arrival in Washington he dis
cussed the claims with the President, and
it was concluded that Turkey is liable
for the damages.
The issue has come said an Admin
istraJion official. Turkey has disS,owed
liability for the damages sustained by
American citizens. America holds that
the Porte Is directly responsible on the
grounds that its officials connived at or
permitted the 0utrages which are said to
have resulted in injuries 10 Americans
and American property. Ii Will now de-
pend upon The President and his Cabinet
10 determine what shall be done 10 en-
force the demand"
Ii was learned today that an instruction
IS being prepared at the State Depart
Inent at the instance of the Secretary
which viii be sent to Minister Straus at
urce, and which Will require Turkey TO
make some settlement OF the claims, or
at least submit a proposition having their
ultimate settlement in view. Ii is not
known whether the President would go as
far as the last Administration did in pre-
pairing plans for making a naval demot-
stratiun in Turkish waters. The Presi-
dent, however, feels that the matter is
one which cannot be postponed much Ion
ger, and the instructions which will De
sent to Minister Straus will be very pc
~ mptory in tone.
The temper Of the Administration re-
sIecting these claims is We'll shown by
an instruction sent TO DR.. Angel and
presented by him TO the Porte shortly be-
fore his departure for America, in which
it was said:
The reply to the Turkish minister for
foreign affairs diSclaiming responsibility
Z -R7. AZ
ders is not satisfactory 10 this Govern
ment A review Of the correspondence il
this relation shows that in every ease Of
this kind the Turkish government either
ignores or distOrts the abUndantiy sup
ported contention OF this government that
the injuries to American property during
the recent disorders We're suffered
through the insufiiciency Of the protective
measures afforded.
"A general disclaimer of responsibility
cannot, therefore, be accepted. and you
are instructed to press for a specific re-
ply to the repeated demands Of this gov
ernment that Turkey acknowledge liabil-
iJy, and urging the desirability of =
Just and prompt settlement OF the indem-
nifty claims, that the friendly relations
which have hitherto existed between the
TWO governments may continue uninter-
rupted"
America, deeply regrets that there should
be any friction between this country and
Turkey, especially, he declares, when the
triyiality Of the question is conceded.
"A great deal Of noise is being made
about nothing he said. THE amount
involved is only 100000 1t seems to me
the relations between the United States
and Turkey should be considered more
sacred than Is 100000, especially when il
il not settled that the claims which
amount TO that sum are just. am
astonished at the recent statement Of DIR.
Angel in reference to the attitude OF my
government respecting the claims. ] cam
not believe but that he has overstepped
the bounds of diplomatic courtesy by
criticising a government which treated
him with the greatest consideration.
This trouble Is caused by some of the
foreign missionaries in Turkey, who, in
stead of taking care Of their religious
missions, are continually engaging in po-
litical intrigues. ] protest against the ac-
Cusation that Turkey permitted these out
arges. Such charge is ridiculous. and
the man must be simple who believes
such a charge.