Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-04-27
Constantinople Hears That 1t Ap-
proaches an Ultimatum.
NO MORE PEREMPFORY THAN BEFORE
The Porte's Proposal to Pay the
Indemnity Secretly
UNCHANGED IN ATTITUDE

CONSTANTINOPLE, Thursday. April ,26.
The American note handed to the Turkish
minister Of foreign affairs, Tewfik Pasha,
Tuesday, is couched in peremptory terms.
demanding immediate payment of the in
demnity several times promised to Minister
Straus by the Sultan. The note does not fix
a time limit for an answer, but Its tenor is
not far from the character of an ultimatum.
1t has produced a great impression upon
the porte, which, however. shows no dispo-
sition to modify the attitude hitherto main
tanned, namely, the repudiatng the respon-
sibity and seeking to diminish the import
ance of the matter. 1t is presumed that the
porte's reply will be in this sense; and hence
it Is feared the United States government
will be obliged to take steps to enforce its
demands.
Proposition to Buy Cruiser.
Turkeys decision to send ar officer to
America to study naval construction is in
terpreted to be another sop. 1t is tho
vival of an old project to buy cruiser in
the United States. in the price of which the
indemnity shall be included, SO that the
porte will be able to say it has not paid the
indemnity
The American government has already
categorcaliy refused such compromise,
which would mean prolonged negotiations
and the dragging out of the matter indefi-
nitely, to which the United States will not
listen. AS regards the indemnity, it is in
the nature of a debt of honor. If the porte
wants to buy cruiser that is a matter in
no way connected with the indemnity.
Embassies Exchanging Views.
The portes reply to the last collective
note on the subject of duties has not been
made, and the embassies are exchanging
views in regard TO the terms on which TO
consent to an increase of duty. 1t is
tlOllybT that before the hpprIpDiDpr of
gotiations the embassies will invite the
porte to abolish ransoms and measures in
trOduced in violation Of treaties.
Twenty arrests were made yesterday Of
Mussumans alleged to be sympathizcTs
with the young Turkish party.
Mr. GriscOm's Instructions.
Beyond the statement that Mr.. Grscom
has been instructed to press vigorously for
the payment of the American claims for
indemnity, the officials here decline to di-
vulge the nature of mis- instructions. There
is not the least doubt that Mr. Griscom
does not need express instructions to for
ward the claims, for he has of his own voli-
ton taken rather alarmingly advanced at
utude in this matter. The presentations he
is now making, though this time by express
instruction, are in no respect more peremp
tory than than his own preceding deliver
les to the Turkish government.
The POrte's Offer for n Vessel.
Novel though the proposition was from
a diplomatic standpoint yet it is learned
to be true that the effort made by the
porte to pay this American claim under
cover of an order for a warship to be built
in the United States for Turkey. The rea-
sons for the failure of the project were
several; the United States government has
no warships for sale, and is not authorized
to build any for foreign order Then there
ie 11,,
arrangement with private shipbuilding
concern for the collection of an interna
tional obligation in the manner proposed.
Lastly. judging by the experience of con-
Germs that have already had dealings with
the Turkish government, any Shipbullder
accepting the order from Turkey would re-
qulre a guarantee from the United States
government, and the net result of the trans
action might be the assumption by the
United States of obligation as much
larger than the original claims the price
of a battle ship exceeds that 100000.
But supposing that all these obstacles
were overcome, the scheme would be an
utter failure SO far as concerns the accom-
piishment of the prime object namely, the
secret payment to the United States Of the
indemnify. with view 10 avoiding demands
from other nations for settlement of their
claims, for under our open methods of bus
mess the transaction would have to be a
matter of official record.
other Claims Against Turkey.
One effect of the sudden application of
pressure upon Turkey in the case of the
missionary claims is a renewal of the ap-
plications from American holders of other
claims against Turkey for presentation
of their cases Save the missionary claims
the 100000 indemnity embraced in this last
claim contains only small allotment
of about 5000 for the benefit of the fam
lily of the bicyclist, Lenz, who was killed
in Turkey while making circuit of the
globe. But it is believed that, however
well founded the other outstanding claims
may be, the present time is not regarded
as propitious for urging them upon the at
nothing will be done to divert the nego-
tiations from these missionary claims as
the main issue.