Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-04-20
Secretary Hay Returns.

secretary hay returned TO w Washington
| this morning from New York An accu-
mutation of departmental business awaited
him, but nothing in the nature of an ulti-
matum directed to the Turkish government
was included in the mass of papers upon
his desk. 1t is apparent that, though de-
termlned upon positive action in the COL
lection of its just claims against the Turk
ism government, the State Department is
proceeding decorously and with due pre-
cautions against being led into the as
sumption of any position which it cannot
maintain.
1t may be stated by authority that the
State Department is entirely satisfied of
the accuracy of Minister Straus' statement
relative to the promises made to him by
the porte, Notwithstanding attempted eX-
plantations and efforts to becloud the issue
by declarations that the sultans promises
were conditional. Mr.. Straus' dispatches,
sent while he was in Constantinople are
| couched in exact terms; his written state
| ments were fully confirmed by his oral ex-
plantations to the department upon his re-
turn to the United States; and moreover,
| the pledges he secured. We're similar to
those made to the two preceding Unite
States ministers to Turkey. In the opinion
| of the State Department atfcials, it is in
conceivable that three United States min
isters should be successfully deceived in
the terms of a promise should have
reached similar misundersta ndings.
Our Attitude Approved.
The approval which the State Depart
ments latest action seems t6 have received
in Europe was anticipated. it being real
lied here that several of the continental
powers having claims similar to our own
against Turkey, being themselves prevent
ed from initiating any fOrcible demand
upon the Turkish government by reason of
the Jealousy of their neighbors, are en-
urey willing that the United States gov
ernment shall act a pioneer in this mat
ter and clear the way for prosecution Of
their own just claims.
1t is also believed here that the European
powers are hopeful that the attitude as
sumed by the United States in the present
instance may indirectly serve to deter the
Turkish government from the proposed ar
bitrary increase of per cent in customs
dues which 1t seeks to make in defiance OF
the joint protest of the European powers.
II appears that our government Is lending
its moral support to that protest, for, while
not joining with the others in the COM
bined note, our charge, Mr. Briscom mas
been instructed to make representations on
our own account in opposition to the in
crease Of duties.
MIR. Straus Persona NON Grata.
According to several members of the dip
lomatic corps, Minister Straus has un-
doubtedly made himself persona non grata
to the sublime porte by his repeated state
meuts that the sultan has acted in bad
faith in failing to comply with his prom
1t is alleged that Mr.. Straus' course has
ended his usefulness at Constantinople
and that he probably would not be receiv-
ed in the event of his return to the Turk
1Sh capital This contingency Is not
garded of any special consequence in
administration circles for the reason that
there is small likelihood of the return of
Mr.. StrauS to ConStantinoDle even in the
expected event of satisfactory conclu-
sion of the pending diplomatic entangle-
Ment. Inc settlement of these claims was
the principal object of Mr.. Straus' mission
TO turkey, and its accomplishment would,
in any event, have terminated his diplo-
matte services. Although it is known that
ne mas no desire to retain his position, Mr.
Straus has notified the State Department
that he Is prepared to abide by its wishes
in the matter. In other words, while he
Goes not wish to go back. he will do so
If the interests of the government re-
quire it.
Turkish Minister Indignant.
Ali Ferrouh Bey, the Turkish minister
here, does not attempt to conceal his indig
nation at the reflections cast upon the honor
of his royal sovereign by the United States
minister in his recent newspaper interviews.
In a statement made to a newspaper man
last night the Turkish minister said:
I was very muchiSurprised to read the
declaration made by Minister Straus that
the sultan had promised to pay the claims
and had failed to do So The sultan enter
tanned high regard for Mr. Straus. and the
latter has many other frienCS in the empire
Mr.. Straus is still the representative of the
United States accredited to the sublime
porte. How can he be justified in making
such a public declaration when he is acting
in diplomatic capacity?
1t is violation of international law. I
cannot permit any one to impugn the word
OF my sovereign. You may be sure that if
the sultan had given his promise to pay the
claims they would have been settled 1 have
never heard of any promise. I have not
been engaged in conducting the negotia-
tions' ana Know nothing official about them.
AS have said however, T am satisfied the
sultan could not have promised to pay the
claims. Had he done so they would have
oeen settled by now. l am convinced the
sultan 5 remarks We're Infsinterpreted, and
that instead of giving promise he an
nounced that he would refer the matter to
the proper executive denartrueut for inyes.