The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-04-27
PEREMPTORY.
Last American Note Addressed
to Turkey
Demands Immediate Payment
and is Not Far
FROM AN ULTIMATUM.
Only Thing Lacking is Fixing a
Time Limit.
Sultan's Scheme to Include the
Indemnity
In the Price of a Cruiser to Be
Ordered Here.
CAN'T BE THOUGHT OF.
Indemnity Debt of Honor and
Must Be Paid.
CAN'T BE THOUGHT OF.
Indemnity Debt of Honor and
Must Be Paid.

Constantinople. Thursday, April 26.-
The American note handed to the Turk
ish minister of foreign affairs, Tewfik
Pasha. on Tuesday is couched in pre-
emptory terms, demanding immediate
payment for the indemnity several
times promised to Minister Straus by
the sultan. The note does not fix time
limit for an answer but its tenor is
not far from the character of an uli-
matum. It has produced a great i'm
preston upon the Porte, which. how
ever, shows no disposition to modify the
attitude hitherto maintained, namely,
repudiating the responsibility and seek
ing to diminish the Importance of the
matter. 1t is presumed that the Porte's
reply will be in this sense; and hence
it is feared the United States govern
ment win be obliged to take steps to
enforce its demands.
Turkeys decision to send an officer
TO America to study naval construction
IS interpreted to be another sop. 1t is
the revival of an old project to buy a
cruiser in the United States, in the
price of which the indemnity shall be
included, so that the Porte will be able
to say that it has not paid the in
demnity. The American government
has already categOrically refused such
a compromise, which would mean pro-
longed negotiations and the dragging
out Of the matter indefinitely, to which
tho United Staes will not listen. As
regards the indemnity, it is in the ma
ture of a debt of honor. If the Porte
wants to buy a cruiser that is a matter
in no way connected with the in
demnity.
The Porte's reply to the last collective
note on the subject of duties has not
been made. and the embassies are ex-
changing views in regard to the terms
on which to consent to an increase of
duty. It is thought that before the be-
ginning Of negotiations the embassies
will invite the Porte to abolish ransoms
and measures introduced in violation of
treaties.
WHY SULTAN'S SCHEME FAILED
Washington, April 27.-Beyond the
statement that Mr.. Griscom, U. S
charge d'affaires at Constantinople has
been instructed to press vigorously fol
the payment of the American claims fol
indemnity, the officials here decline tc
dlVulge the nature OF MS Instructions
They say that Mr.. Griscom does moi
need express instructions to forward the
claims for he had of his own volitior
taken rather advanced attitude in thi:
matter, and the presentations he is nov
making, though this time by express in
struction, are in no respect more per
smptory than his own preceding deliv
erles TO the Turkish government.
Novel though the proposition wa.
from diplomatic standpoint vet it il
learned to be true that the effort wa!
made by the porte to pay this American
claim under cover of an order for ;
Warship to be built in the United State
for turkey The reasons for the failur
or the project were several; the Unitet
states government has no Warships 70
sale and IS not authorized to build an
for foreign order.
Then there is no warrant of law for en-
tering into an arrangement with a pri
vate ship building concern for the coliec
tion Of an obligation in the manner pro
posed. Lastly, judging by the experienc
OF concerns that have had dealings wit
Ahe turkish government. any ship builde
accepting the order from Turkey WouI
require guarantee from the Unite
States government and the net result G
the transaction might be the assumDtiO
by the United States of an OBLIGATION a
much larger than the original claims a
the price of a battleship exceeds the 500
V0J- Even If these obstacles were over
come, the scheme would be an utter faf
ure as Tar as concerns the accomplish
Went OF the prime object, namely tn
secret payment to the United States c
the indemnity with a view to avoiding dc
mands from other nations for the settle
ment Of their claims for under our one
methods of business. the transacfio
would have to be a matter of official reS
ord. 'A'e'''i iee