New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-05-20
THE CASE AGAINST TURKEY
NO DOUBT WHATEVER OF THE PORTES
RESPONSIBILITY FOR AMERI-
CAN LOSSES
Copyright 1900: BY The New-York Trtbune.I
[sY CABLE TO THE TRIBUNE

London, May 19.-An exceptionally we'll in
formed correspondent whose name must be
suppressed. sends from Constantinople
day a clear account of the indemnity dispute
which has arisen between the United States
Government and the Sultan He deals first with
the question of responsibility for losses incurred
through the disturbances al Harpoot. Marash
and Hasskeni. and proves by extracts from
diplomatic correspondence that il lies with the
Ottoman authorities Without repeating the
familiar story of the outbreaks of 1895 and 1896
which led to the destruction OF American prop
erty he quotes from British Blue Books the
request from Judge Terrell. the United States
Minister, TO Sir Philip Currie. the British Am
bassador. that Mr. Fontana should ascertain
on his arrival at Harroot how far the Turkish
troops and civil functionaries were implicated
in the burning and pillaging of American school
property in that town. He gives a summary of
the evidence supplied by Mr. FOntana on the
strength of the statements of twenty witnesses
of the disturbances at Harpoot. who were cross
examined by him He quotes Mr. Fontana's
conclusion, that the proofs of the prearrange-
ment Of the disturbances by the authorities and
| the attack organized by them upon the Prot
estant quarter and the American mission were
| too convincing to admit of any serious doubt.
He gives an extract from the British ConsuTs
report on the massacre at Marash. which was
directed by Turkish soldiers with the evident
scription Of the attack upon the American mis-
sion, the burning of the theological seminary.
the shooting of two students and the plundering
Of the academy and boarding house.
The Tribunes correspondent states that the
| losses at Hasskeni caused during the dis
turbances in Constantnople and the villages on
the Bosporus and Golden Horn in August,
1896. He remarks
The American mission house at Hasskeni was
| Cd in ire amy naG
| the awful scenes which were enacted in its
neighborhood.
He adds corroborative proofs from dispatches
| 10 the British Foreign Office from the Charge
| d'Affaires in Constantinople and from col
lecttve note, of August 81. TO the Sublime Porte
from the representatives of the great Powers
The Tribunes correspondent. after settling this
preliminary question of the responsibility of the
Turkish authorities for these outrages, contends
that the American claim is a civil one. not
missionary He remarks:
It is most important that it should be clearly
understood that the matter of claiming indem-
nitv is not a missionary question American
missionaries at work in the Ottoman Empire
do not ask for any exceptional protection for
themselves or for their work on the ground that
they missionaries; they only ask for that
protection 70 which as American cltlzens Ihey
are entitled under the treaties existing between
Turkey and the United States. The fact that
the property destroyed was missionary property
is an accidental feature Of the case; the prin
| ciple stake is the right or the United SIaLeS
Government TO protect the persons ana prop
erty of it's citizens residing and working in
Turkey and its right 70 claim redress for IN.
juries which are clearly traceable 20 the negif-
gence or the participation of the Ottoman au-
thorities. The claims officially presented have
| been entirely free from eXaggeration-
My correspondent next deals with the sultans
promise; he says:
For over two years the Ottoman Government
repudated all responsibility for the losses in
I Gov, ay7rT
nople Minister in the autumn of 1891 he
rereated the claim for the payment of indem-
! nifty. and far successful that he obtained
the Sultan's promise. repeated more than once,
that the indemnity would be paid and an trade
granted for rebuilding the wrecked mission
premises. on the eve Of his departure on leave
in December 1899. Mr.. Straus was told by
Palace official that trade for rebuilding at
Harpoot had been granted. and he informed
the parties concerned; but when the fulfflment
Of this promise pressed for delays
Cured. and after Ramadan and Bairam il was
denied both at the Sublime Porte and ar the
palace that any such order for the issue of
trade had been given.
II was doubtless then that the Ameri-
can Government decided 70 take more
definite action, and the rumor of projected
energetic measures was Followed by the intlna-
ton of the Sultan5 permission 10 rebuild at
HarpoOt and to- make additions to Robert Col
lege, at Roumei Hissar the Bosporus The
Sultan also acted in such a manner s show
that he wished for no breach between himself
and the United States. Mr. Griscom had
unsolicited interview with the sultan who re-
ceived him with great cordiality. The inter
view informal one It is believed TO
be an unprecedented thing for the Sultan TO
ask such interview with a charge d'afaires.
Three weeks ago the Turkish authorities at
a Syrian port refused permission for
! naturalized American citizens 10 embark. Mr.
Griscom. having been informed of this, pre-
sented a peremptory note requesting that the
men should have permission embark. 1t
conceded. and instructions were sent 10 that
effect so speedily 10 the local governor as TO
suggest that the incident had been welcomed
as an opportunity of showing the goodwill
existing between Turkey and the United States.
The Tribune correspondent next discusses the
difference between the American claims and
those of European Powers. He remarks:
1t is needless to enter into the historical
merits OF the question, this great difference
exists; the Legation of the United States has
repeatedly received the Sultan's promise 10 paw
a claim, the justice of which has been CON
ceded: European Power has received such
lister Washington, speaking without com
munication with his Government said in effect:
I'm my opinion, I hardly believe that
His Majesty could have made such PROMISE;
but there is actually dispute about the fact
of the promise having been made. There has
been no denial repudiatton of II from the
Yildiz Palace the Sublime Porte.
He finally asks what will be the next stem
remarking:
Three weeks have passed since the last note
on the indemnity question was presented bv the
United States Legation TO the Sublime Porte
to that note answer has been received DfpIo-
matte circles well as those outsQa are
awaiting with interest the next move. Rurnors
have been current that the United States Gov
ernrlent is bout withdraw from the position
il has taken up, and these rumors have pro
duced a exceedingly bad effect The United
States Government cannot afford TO allow prom
ises made its representative 10 be ignored the
failure of the effort just made will not only
trench upon the honor due TO the Western Re
L will ais rha