Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-04-20
PROMISE BUT PAY No MONEY
BROKEN PLEDGES ALL THIS COUN-
TRY HAS TO SHOW FOR DEAL
INGS WITH TURKEY.
Pressure Will Be Tried-Absence of
Minister Strauss Was a Notice of
This Governments D~fspleasure.
The Turkish Minister Says the
Sultan Is q Man of His Word.

The Turks Minister Says the
Sultan Is a Man of His WOrd.
NEW YORK, April 19.-The Herald
says: Oscar S. Strauss, minister from
the United States 20 Turkey, is at bis
home in this city. When Mr.. Strauss
found that the sultan, despite his per-
sonal pledge to pay the claims, which
had, at his solicitation been reduced
from more than $500, 900 to $780,
900, was bent on continuing his policy
of delay, he sent a dispatch to Wash
ington, relating the facts OF the nego-
tiation. The resignation, if accepted,
would have been tau'anount t. q til
rect challenge to the Sublime Porte.
The administration was not pre-
pared, however, to take so positive a
step. and asked Minister Strauss TO
permit his resignation 10 remain I'M
acted upon, and to retire from Con-
stantinople until the affair might be
adjusted amicably or by firm pressure
upon the sultan. 1t 1s understood,
therefore, that the absence of Minister
Strauss from Constantinople is notice
to the sultan OF the d~ispleasure of Tins
country.
Mr.. Strauss says: II regard the
situation as grave, unless the sultan
promptly makes good his promises.
The sultan has made the promise to
pay the indemnity claims three times
first, shortly after my arrival there
in December, 1898; second, about six
months thereafter, and third, a short
time before 1 left. l have always
been well disposed toward Turkey, and
| regard the sultan as an intelligent
monarch, and l trust that he will show
that intelligence by satisfying our
claims and not wait until it is too late.
These claims have been carefully on
sidered by the minister of foreign af-
fairs of Turkey, and by the council of
ministers, and a report was made to
the sultan recommending payment. 1
conducted the negotiations through all
tie stages Of diplomacy, and I spared
i effort to avoid friction; but l i'm
Z ssed upon the sultan that our gov
eminent relied upon the prompt full
sillment of his promises, which good
faith, no less than good relations, de-
manded."
A special to the Herald from Wash
ington says: Ali Ferrouh Bay, Turk
ish minister to the United States, will
call at the State Department to-day to
ascertain what foundation there is for.
the reports that the administration is
preparing to hand him his passports in
the event that the sublime porte de-
clines to pay the missionary claims
pending against it. Similar queries
will be made by representatives OF Eu-
ropean governments in Washington.
The State Department is maintaining
a discreet silence, although it is known
that when Secretary Hay returns from
New York he will sign a persmptory
note to the sublime porte demanding
prompt action upon American claims.
Ali Ferrouh Bey, in discussing the
matter, declared that Turkey is not re-
sponsible for the claims, as it had given
adequate protection to foreigners re-
siding within its boundaries during the
revolution of some years ago. Il can
hardly believe" he said, that any
foundation EXISTS for the reports that
there is grave danger of a rupture in
the diplomatic relations between the
United States and the sublime porte on
account of the latter's failure to pay
claims arising out of alleged outrages
suffered by American missionaries in
Turkey. The relations between the
two governments have always been of
a friendly character and are too sacred
to be so lightly broken off. The
claims amount, in all, to 100000, a
paltry sum, I think, upon which to base
such a regrettable and injurious act.
while l have not conducted nego-
tiations on the subject, and am, there
fore, not familiar with all the facts, 1
am sure that had the Sultan given his
promise to pay an immediate settle
ment would have been made. I am of
the opinion that in the translation of
his remarks the dragoman misinter-
preted his language, conveying to the
minister the promise of which he
speaks instead of a declaration that an
inquiry would be made of the proper
executive department.
MY government is DESTROYS OF full
filling its just obligations, and il the
claims of the missionaries can be es-
tablished they will undoubtedly be set
tied. But it seems ridiculous for the
press to speak of a rupture of diplo-
matte relations in view of the unim-
p~ortance of the matter and of the small
sum.
My relations with the State Depart
ment are so cordial that l can hardly
believe there is any foundation for the
report that a rupture is i'm pending,
and beside the officials are too far
seeing and possess too much judgment