Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-04-27
CONSTANTINOLE.

April 25.-The negotiations between
the United States and the Porte re-
garding the American indemnity claims
have again been transferred here.
United States Charge d'Affaires Girls
com yesterday handed to Tew1k Pa
sha, minister of foreign affairs, a note
based on instructions he had received
from Washington, the terms of which
have not yet been made public. 1t is
understood, however, that it demands
prompt payment of the indemnity.
The note will be discussed at the
council of ministers to-day. Similar
steps by the other powers are regarded
as imminent.
Charge Griscom, in the present cir
cumstances, declines to express his
views.
The only issue at present, however,
is the execution of the Porte's repeated
promises to Minister Straus to pay
the indemnity.
After Mr.. Straus left the matter re-
manned in allegiance until the Associat-
ed Press dispatch from Washington,
April II, sharply reminded the Turkish
government that the question required
urgent attention. The Porte immedi-
ately telegraphed to the Turkish min
lister at Washington, asking for ex-
plantations of the reported strained re-
lations. The minister replied that he
had called at the State Department and
was informed that the situation had
not yet assumed serious character.
The words mot yet" seem to have i'm
pressed The Porte, and on the strength
of this information the sultan issued
an trade in regard to-the Kharput mat
ter which he hoped would serve as a
sop and defer pressure in the demands
for indemnity, although it is generally
recognized that permission to rebuild
would be of little value to the mission
aries without the payment of the in
demnity.
Another trade, issued April 25, orders
Rear Admiral Ahmed Pasha to proceed
to America in order to study the con
struction of battleships.
1t is learned that the note of Mr..
Griscom, United States Charge at Con-
stantinople, is founded on the State
Departments instructions to press Wig
orously the claim for indemnity al
ready lodged with the Porte. The note
is not ar ultimatum in any sense, but
is in continuation of the expressed de-
termination of the State Department
to exhaust all peaceful and proper
means to secure a settlement of these
American claims.
1t is not doubted that the Turkish
| government would speedily meet our
desires in this matter could the claims
be adjusted privately and without the
knowledge of the European Ambassa-
doris in Constantinople, but this is i'm
| practicable; and the Turkish govern
ment is, it is believed, embarrassed at
the necessity of settling all the claims
of European countries for large sums
Of money should the American claims
be allowed.
The eXpectant attitude of the Euro
pean diplomatic agents in CONSTANT
nople during the active prosecution OF
the American negotiations is probably
the basis for such stories as that put
afioat to the effect that the Russian
government was secretly backing Tur-
key in opposition to the settlement
with the United States. 1t is realized
that the Turkish government is not at
all averse to the spread of a belief in
the truth of this story, but it is held
here that there is no foundation in fact
for it.