The Portland daily press., 1899-01-13
TURKEY GRANTS OUR CLAIM.
Mr.. strauss signal Diplomatic Achieve
mcnt at Constautinoplc.
New York Times. J

tNeW 1Ofk llmes.l
Washington. Jan. 10. Minister Straus,
according to the latest information heard
here from Constantinople, seems likely 10
crown his work as Minister with very
matte Achievements Very soon after his
arrival in Turkey he began to accomplish
some of the results most desired by the
Administration of President Mckinley
and without the slightest friction that
was apparent. 1t was stated in the New
York Times nearly two months ago that
he had secured the removal Of all obsta-
cles TO the granting of long withheld
exequaturs to our Consuls in Turkey, and
that he was giving close attention to the
very difficult question of the recognition
by Turkey of the naturalization in the
United States OF Turkish subjects.
The most delicate subject Mr.. Straus
has been called upon to bring to the at
tention of the Sultan and the Sublime
Porte was the demand by the United
states for indemnity on account of in
ju-ies inflicted during the Armenian dis
orders of 1856. 1t may be stated that
the Department of state Is now aware
that Mr.. Straus has not been idle nor
unsuccessful in handling this nice ques-
ton, which with unskilful trea ment
might ave been but the beginning Of
very unpleasant relations between the
United States and Turkey.
1t is learned that in the performance of
his duty in this matter Minister Straus
has had a private audience with the Sui
tan touching the settlement Of the indem-
nity asked Tor by the United States. This
audience seems TO have been the culmina-
ton of the work of the Minister in the
direction of II satisfactory settlement.
bere seems to be no doubt that at that
audience the Sultan gave assurances that
he would direct the adjustment and pay
ment of the American claims growing
out of the Armenian trouble of 1925 and
the following year. This will be sur
prise to those who had read that Turkey
had denied all liability for the injuries
inflicted at that time upon missionary
property.
A. an indication that tn assurance of
the sultan was not wholly idle. or that
it was not meant to be carried into effect,
it is stated that the American claims
which were hurrieily made up to round
sum and Incorrectly and cnrelessly stated,
anu undoubtedly ONtfslAtous bOtn Us W
items and amounts, are being revised pre-
paratory 10 settlement.
The State Department is evidently not
so sanguiDe about the early settlement OF
the claims as the Minister is reported to
be. 1t is very well understood that IL is
most ditiioalt thing to prevail upon the
sultan TO come to decision in such "a
matter, and if the reports from Coustan-
tinople prove to be justified by later ac-
ton such as is promised it Will at once
be admitted that Minister Straus has
achieved a diplomatic triumph in bring
ing about "a reversal of decision already
announced from Constantinople that
none of these claims for injuries suffered
in 1886 in Armenia should be paid.
Having once decided to favor the pay
ment of the claims of the u nited States,
there is no doubt that the Sultan viii nd
here to his decision, and ii is assumed
here that the Minister has sagaciously
reached this stage OF negotiation 10y such
firm and courteous diplomacy as to have
convinced the Porte as well as the sultan
that it would be- better to promote good
relations by the payment of a really in
significant sum at most, rather than
force rupture by n positive refusal TO
hear our demands or TO practically refuse
them by definite postponement Of pay
ment.
AS the Times has been already in
formed, Mr.. Straus reached Constantine
pie with Instructions to use ali diplomatic
urgency to secure the payment Of our
claims and with assurances that his re-
port that diplomacy had been exhausted,
and yet no promise of payment obtained,
would be promptly followed by the dis
patch of vessels TO the Mediterranean 10
obtain that gust satisfaction" that the
Government would have felt to he inn
perative AS a proof OF its belief in the
righteousness of its claims and the recti-
tude of its position.
Already IL is known that the President
is highly gratiiied with the progress made
by Minister Straus, and when the definite
announce ment is obtained from Constan-
tinople that the indemnity had been
paid, this satisfactory result added to the
success of the Minister in securing the
recognition of our right to send Consuls
to Turkey. an important one for the pro-
lection of American Interests In the Otto
man Epmire and his success also in secur-
ing the removal of restriction against
travelling in the Turkish Empire. which
have existed since the Armenian trouble
several years ago, viii justify an exchange
of congratulations sucn as has not been
made in recent years. Considering how
slow are the courses of diplomacy at best,
and how conseIvatiyely slow the Turkish
authorities always are, it is remarkable
that so much has been accomplished In
three short months.