The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1900-04-21
TIE SULTAN MUST PAY UP.
Diplomatic Relations with Turkey Strained
by Reason OF Broken
Pledges.

Washington, April 1s.-There is no
longer any question that the diplomat
ic relations between the United States
and Turkey are in a critical state.
growing out of the sultan's bad faith.
He promised to pay the indemnity
claims of the American missionaries
fol the destruction of eight buildings
of the Euphrates college at Harpoot
and several buildings belonging to the
American missionaries at Ma.ash dur
ing the Armenian massacres of 1895.
Services Indispensable.
Mr.. Straus, the United States min
lister to Turkey, is at present in the
United States on leave of absence. AS
has already been announced. he pre-
scented his resignation, but :he pres'-
dent, regarding the services of Mr..
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 have exhaust
ed itself at Constantinople, the sultan
having promised to pay the indemnity
claims, amounting to some $4,000,
which promise was again renewed
prior to Mr.. Straus' departure, and al
though 16 months have elapsed sine
tie promise was first made, tina prom
isc still remains untitled.
The Governments Next Sep.
What action the government will
now take to enforce the sultan's prom
Use 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 Sultun's Broke 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
be 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 DIR. Angel resigned, in 1898,
the. relations between the two coun-
tries were critical by reason Of the in
action of the Turkish government and
it's refusal to entertain the indemnity
claims. Mr.. Straus, by reason of his
successful previous mission and his
Fast experience, was summoned by the
president to take up the mission as
best qualified to adjust the pending
questions in a satisfactory to
both countries. Shortly after his ar
rival in Constantinople, in September.
1898, several matters yielded to nego-
tiation.
h Hain Questions.
He then addressed himself to the
main questions, the compensation for
missionary buildings destroyed, and
for property looted and the permit for
their rebuilding. The Turkish govern
n,ent. shortly before the departure of
d.. Angel, SEN 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-
t;onal law, with the result that at an
audience with the sultan, on the Stn
of December, 1898, the sultan prom
ised to pay the claims. The claims
were examined with great care and
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 thedestroyed
buildings. Neither of these promises
has been kept.
The Situation mt 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
NJ. Stratus has, under the guidance of
Secretary Hay, done everything di-
plomacy could accomplish to bring the
sul,an's attention to the seriousness
q the situation. Our minister, as well
as our government, hoped that the sui
Ian's promise, though delayed, would
bc fulfilled.
In Good Hands.
During the continuance of Minister
Straus' leave of absence, the legation
is in charge of Capt. Lloyd c. Griscom,
st cretarY of legation. who is fully con.