The Forrest City times., 1900-04-20


 and Turkey are in critical state, growing out of the sultan's bad faith. He promised to pay the indemnity claims of the American missionaries foI the destruction of eight buildings of the Euphrates college at Harpoot and several buildings belonging to the American missionaries at Marash dur ing the Armenian massacres of 1895.
 Services Indispensable.
 MT. Straus, the United States min- ister to Turkey, is at present in the United States on leave of absence. As has already been announced. he pre- sented his resignation, but he presi- dent, regarding the services of Mir. Straus as indispensable, indefinitely extended his leave, subject to the call of the secretary of state whenever cir cumstances may necessitate his re- turn.
 Diplomacy Exhausted.
 Diplomacy appears to tS,ve exhaust ed itself at Constantinople, the sultan having promised to pay the indemnity claims, amounting to some $90,00O, which promise was again renewed prlor to MT. Straus' departure, and ai- though 16 months have elapsed since tEe promise was first made, that prom ise still remains unified.
 The Governments Next Step.
 What action the government will now take to enforce the sultan's prom ise is not definitely known, but as the situation is critical it may result in Secretary Hay sending the Turkish minister at Washington his passports.
 The S"ltnn'x Broken Pledges.
 The question involved between the two countries is no longer one resting upon disputed points of international law, but upon the sultan's broken faith. This is not his only promise, he having stated to our minister that he would give his permit for the re- construction of the American college and school buildings, while, up to the present, the official permit, on one ex- cuse and another. has been withheld.
 The Man for the Place.
 When Dr. Angell resigned, in 1898,
 
 tries were critical by reason of the in- action of the Turkish government and irs refusal to entertain the indemnity claims. Mir. Straus, by reason of his successful previous mission and his past experience, was summoned by the president to take up the mission as lest qualified to adjust the pending icfa ntA tn, both countries. Shortly after his ar- rival in Constantinople, in September, 1898, several matters yielded to nego- tiation.
 The Hain Questions.
 He then addressed himself to the main questions, the compensation for missionary buildings destroyed, and for property footed and the permit for their rebuilding. The Turkish govern nent, shortly before the departure of Dr. Angell, sent a reply denying all liability for the buildings and prop erty destroyed. A similar reply was sent to the ambassadors of England, France and Italy, having like claims. The Sultan Promised. Mr. Straus took up the question anew, basing his argument upon the weil-recognized principles of interna- tional law, with the result that at an audience with the sultan, on the Sth of December, 1898, the sultan prom ised to pay the claims. The claims scrutiny, based upon the principle of indemnity for the actual value of the property destroyed. The sultan also stated that he had given permission for the reconstruction of the destroyed buildings. Neither of these promises has been kept.
 The Situation at Present. The situation is practically this: Our minister has succeeded in obtain ing judgment by confession upon the claims, which confession was made by the sultan himself, but the execution remains unsatisfied.
 Diplomacy has exhausted itself, and M. Straus has, under the guidance of 1 Secretary Hay, done everything di- plomacy could accomplish to bring the sultan's attention to the seriousness tt the situation. Our minister, as well as our government, hoped that the sul- ian's promise, though delayed, would be fulfilled.
 In Good Hands.
 During the continuance of Minister Straus' leave of absence, the legation is in charge of Capt. Lloyd C. Griscom, secretary of legation, who is fully con- versant with the business.
 THE GRAND JURY REPORTS.