Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-04-26
OUR CLAIMS AGAINST TURKEY
As the Sultan Has Plenty of Money He
Might Pay Them.
The Monetary Affairs of the Ottoman
Government Declared to BE in
an Excellent Condition.

Some surprise has been occasioned in Off
cial circles here by the authorized state
ment of the Turkish minister, Ali Fer
r0uh hey, that the financial affairs of the
Turkish government are in excellent condi-
ton. There appears to be an opinion,
he says, among the American people that
our government is in need of financial as
sistance. This is a grave error. At no
time since the Crimean war has Turkey
been 50 well equipped as to her monetary
apparatus. Our public debt has been year
ly decreased until now it is but a trihe.
So rapidly are our revenues increasing that
We are about to change our fiscal system in
order to meet the growing demands"
The minister's reason for making this
statement was his desire to discourage and
disparage the projected purchase of Pales-
tine by wealthy Hebrews for the estab-
lishment of a free Jewish nation The min
lister notices in the press accounts the allie
cation that if the promoters of this project
are willing to pay enough money their
scheme Will be successful. This position he
Controverts. Money is of no use to the
Turkish government. 1t has all the money
it wants.
This information from so high an au-
thority on Turkish affairs comes in very
appropriately just now in connection with
the long delay in the settlement of Ameri-
can claims against that government. Mr.
he went to Turkey to press the American
claims urgently. His dispatches show that
ne mas made some progress in the negOtia-
ton, but as yet is able to report no definite
results. The Turkish governments endea-
Nor mas been to Sh1rk the responsibility for
our missionaries, and put off the day
OF hnal settlement. The poverty of the
sultan has heretofore been regarded as one
OF the prime causes of this vexatious de-
lay 1t has been frequently maintained
that the Turks would pay if they could
and that their persistent desire to negotiate
was merely an excuse for their poverty.
Instructions to Minister Strnus.
President Mckinley. in his last annual
message, referring to the Turkish situa-
ton, said: The newly accredited envoy of
the United States to the Ottoman porte
carries instructions looking to the disposal
of matters in controversy with Turkey for
a number of years. He was especially
charged to press for a just settlement of
our claims for indemnity by reason of the
destruction of the property of American
missionaries resident in that country dur
ing the Armenian troubles of 1895, as well
as for the recognition Of older claims of
equal business"
1t is felt here that if Turkey is so we'll
able to pay, it is about time that Minister
Straus brought his negotiations to a con-
clusion. And if the United States should
by any chance succeed in promptly collect
ing its claims some of the other nations of
Europe would lose no time in urging a
settlement of theirs.
As to the projected establishment of a
free Jewish nation, the United States gov
eminent has, since 1888 recognized the en-
tire right of Turkey to control foreign col
OniZationS within her borders. That ques
ton is something for the promoters of the
project and the sultan to settle for them
selves. The only interest the United States
has in it is the testimony which the dis
cusSion produces as to the ability of Turkey
to pay its present obligations if it sees fit
to do so.