The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-04-23
TURKEYS REPLY.
The Sultan Appears to Have
Played Trump Card.

Washington, April 23.-The state de-
partment has received through Lloyd
Griscom, the United States charge at
Constantinople the reply of the Turkish
government to the latest representations
of the United States touching the Amer
lean missionary claims. The commune
cation was taken to the White House
by Secretary Hay and presumably was
considered by the cabinet meeting to-
day Mr.. Stratus, the United States
minister to Turkey, who had come over
from New York for the purpose of con-
these claims, called at the state depart
ment today and talked over the last
Turkish note with Secretary Hay.
The department made no public state
ment touching the Turkish note, beyond
the mere announcement that it was in
elusive, and left the subject open for
discussion. It was gathered that the
brief outline of the Turkish response
cabled from COnStantinOple, to the
effect that the American claimants
must take their position along With
those of other nations, does not convey
accurately the tenor Of the whole note,
though it is admitted that it does set
out properly one portion of it.
The opinion prevails in the diplomatic
circle here that assuming the Turkish
government has insisted on including
the American claims with the others. it
has played a diplomatic card of some
strength Such an answer to the Amer
lean demand might be we'll calculated
to deprive the United States of sympa-
thy of the European powers, as It's
places US in a position of seeking to ex-
tort better terms from the Turks than
are to accorded to the claimants of 9TH
er nations or at least attempting to Sc
cure precedence over them, which
a mo 70 tr 6n hfv1c
A reason which leads to the belief
that there must be some qualification
attached to the reported answer Of the
Turkish government, is the fact that
it would amount to total reputation
of the promises alleged by Mr. Straus
to have been made to him by the porte;
while the proposition to the American
claimants to throw in their claims with
those of other nations is equivalent to
a declination to pay inasmuch as the
Turkish government has not for many
years paid any of these foreign claims
so far as is known here.
It is possible that the Porte has it in
mind to Great commission for the set
tlement of all these claims and is seek
ing to prepare the United States gov
eminent for a submission of it's claims
to such an international tribunal The
state department, however is deter
mined not to abandon the preferential
position respecting it's claims that it
has secured through the sultan's own
promises so II IS anticipated IhaU an
energetic response to this last note will
be sent to the Porte through Mr.. Girls
COM AS for Mr.. Straus, while he is
giving the state department the benefit
of his experience in conducting the
negotiations, it is improbable that
he will ever appear again Off
cially in the negotiations; for after
the tension that has been imposed
upon the relations between the United
/ States and Turkey as a result of the
ministers recital of what passed be-
/ tween himself and the porte, it is
! scarcely expected that he will return to
4 CoRstantinople.
/ WILL NOT RAISE TARIFFS NOW.
] Washington, April 23.-IIoyd Griscon
/ the United States charge d'affaires at
/ Constantinople has cabled the state de-
partment that the Turkish minister for
! foreign affairs has informed the ambas-
sailors that the porte will not raise tar
ifs without previous agreement with
| the powers.