The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-05-01
ON TURKEY FOR IMMEDIATE PAYMENT
OF THE INDEMNITY.
STEPS TO ENFORCE THE DEMAND
BY Our Government Will Probably be
Made Necessary by the Nou-Com-
plfance of the Porte turkeys
edent for Paying Such Demands and
to Secretly Pay This One by Purchas-
ing a warship from Our Government

SOiAoC plc, lUuTSudy, April o.
The American note handed to the
Turkish minister of foreign affairs.
Tewfik Pasha, on Tuesday is couched
in peremptory terms, demanding i'm
mediate payment of the indemnity
several times promised to Minister
Stratus 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 disposition
to modify the attitude hitherto main
tanned, namely; Repudiating response
bility and seeking to diminish the i'm
portance of the matter. 1t is presum-
ed tina the porte'S reply will be in
his sense; and hence it is feared the
United States government will be OBJ
liged 10 taxi steps to enforce its re-
mands.
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 it has paid the indemnity.
The American government has al
ready categorically refused such a
compromise, which would mean pro-
longed negotiations and the dragging
out of the matter indefinitely, to which
the United States will not listen. AS
regards the indemnity, II is in the ma
ture of a debt of honor. If the porte
wants to buy a cruiser, that is a mat
ter in no way connected with the in
demnity.
The porte's reply to the last collec-
tive note on the subject of duties has
not been made, and the embassies are
excanging views in regard to the terms
on which to consent to an increase OF
duty. 1t Is thought that before the
beginning of negotiations the b
sizes will invite the porte to abolish
ranSoms, and measures introduced in
violation of treaties.
Washington, April 27.-Beyond the
statement that Mr.. Griscom, the Unit
"a States charge d'affaires at Constan-
tinople has been instructed to press
vigorously for the payment of the
American claims for indemnity, the
officials here decline to divulge the ma
ture of his instructions. They say that
Mr.. Griscom does not need express in
structions to forward the claims, for
he has of his own volition taken a
rather advanced attitude in this mat
ter and the presentations he is now
making, though this time by express
instruction, are in no respect more
peremptory han his own preceding de-
liveries to the Turkish government.
Novel though the prospect was from a
diplomatic standpoint, yet it is learned
to be true that the effort was 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 reasons for the failure
Of the project were several: The Unit
ed States government has no warShipS
for sale, and is not authorized to build
any for foreign order. There is no
warrant of law for entering into an ar
rangement with a private ship build
ing concern for the collection of an in
ternational obligation in the manner
proposed. Lastly, judging by the ex-
p%erience Of concerns that have had
dealings with the Turkish government,
any Ship-builder accepting an order
from Turkey would require a guaran-
tee from the United States government
and the net result Of the transaction
might be the assumption by the United
States of an obligation as much larger
than the original claims as the price of
a battleShip exceeds the $50, 900. Even
If the obstacles were overcome, the
scheme would be an utter failure so
far as concerns the accomplishment Of
the prime object, namely: The secret
Poy - ~ IN ~ oNcNNS VI SAS
indemnity with a view to avoiding de-
mands from other nations for settle
ment of their claims, for under our
open methods of business the rams
action would have to be a matter of Of
fetal record.
One effect of this sudden application
of pressure upon Turkey is a renewal
Of the applications from American
holders of other claims against Turkey
for a presentation of their cases. Save
the missionary claims, the $50, 900 in
demnity contains only one small allot-
ment of about $4,000 for the benefit OF
the family of the bicyclist who was
killed in Turkey while making a cir
cult of the globe; but it is believed
that, however we'll founded the out
standing claims may be, the present
time is not regarded as propitious fol
urging them upon the attention of the
porte, as it is expected hat nothing
will be done to Divert the negotiation!
from the missionary claims as the
main issue.
A DESTRUCTIVE TORNADO.