Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-05-11
TANGLE
Turkeys Ruler Indifferent to This
Governments Action.
TEE MINISTER NOT RECALLED
1t Was Expected Relations Would
Cease.
ONE DIFFICULTY STATED

Ihe Subi1me nQlnerence Oh tne porte -
something altogether beyond the compre-
hension Of enlightened modern diplomacy.
This government has done it's part toward
breaking off diplomatic relations with Tur-
key, according the usual methods, but the
sultan pays attention to 1t. We are
somewhat in the position of the cavalier
who. having thrown down his gauntlet In
challenge. is thus addressed by the object
of his anger: Mister, you've dropped your
glove
A Significant Act.
The sultan having failed to respond satfs-
factorily to the demands of the State De-
partment, the leave Of absence of our min
lister to Turkey, who is now in this coun-
try, has been extended indefinitely. Such
an extension of leave is very significant
act in diplomacy under the circumstances
surrounding this case. 1t was expected to
be followed at once by one of two things:
either a prompt compliance by the suit an
with our demands, or the departure of the
Turkish minister from Washington on a
similar "leave" But neither of these things
has followed. The Turkish minister is still
AT Washington, and has signiied 10 inten-
tion to close the Turkish legation, nor to
recognize any Suspension of diplomatic re-
lationS between the two governments; nor
has the Turkish government evinced any
special concern in the matter.
The Su1tan's SanE-FrOfd.
The sultan still sits cross-legged and
smokes his hubble-bubble with impassive
mien and with a what are you going to do
about it?' air that is slightly contemptuous.
The assumption has been that when the
leave of our minister was indefinitely ex-
tended diplomatic relations with the Turk
ish government had been suspended, but
they are not. The Turkish minister has
h
ton and installed her here with her at
tendants, in seclusion from the eyes of man,
and apparently has no thought OF breaking
up his comfortable establishment. The
mind of the sultan is preOccupied, and is
not to be disturbed by ''unconsdered
trifles." The Turkish government is hardly
unconscious of our displeasure, but is in
different to it, as long as it finds no more
forceful expression than an extended leave
of absence to our minister.
What May Result.
Behind all Is the consciousness that If we
resort to extreme measures the sublime
ruler of the faithful may contemplate with
characteristic sang-froid the killing Of a
few Christians who enjoy the distinction of
being his subjects. OF course. If mission
aries or others who are American citizens
should suffer retrihlltion might follow
quickly, but there are Christians In the
dominion of the Turk who are Turkish
ish government to suspect them of disoy-
atty and of instigating revolt and rebel
lion Being his own subjects, it naturally
follows that he has right to cut Off their
heads without asking the consent of any
nation on earth.' Moreover, the sultan can
take away the privileges Of our mission
aries-whose lives he might not dare take
and the progress Of Christianity in the do
mnion of the Turk might be seriously re-
tarded.
Turkish Minister'S Position Untenable
1t is likely that eventually the Turkish
minister will withdraw from Washington.
IL 1t is not the intention of his government
to comply with our demands. His position
here is already untenable, according to
the delicate distinctions of diplomacy.
When diplomatic relations are entirely sus-
pended, a still more difficult situation Is
threatened American interests in Turkey
must be left in the hands of some one, but
the difficulty In the way of the foreign rep
reseutatives in Turkey undertaking to look
out for our interests was illustrated by the
great anxiety caused the German ambassa-
dor here by the suggestion that the State
Department would ask Germany to act for
us 1t was developed at once that Germany
has reasons for cultivating tho most cordial
relations with Turkey, and such is the tenn
permanent of the sultan that he might take
umbrage at too much care for American
interests by the representative of another
power.
A Diplomatic Difficulty.
To look after their interests when diplo-
matte relations are suspended is a service
one government cannot well decline to per-
form for another. and 1t is recognized as
not involving the power performing the
service in the hostility between the govern
ments at issue But this understanding is
said not to be SO clear with the sultan,
and the interests of most any European
power might be jeopardiZed in acting for
us in this matter. At all events, the Ger
man government would be greatly embar-
rassed If called on for this service.