The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-04-26
Turkish Minister of State Re-
ceives Another Note
From Washington by the Hand
of Our Mr.. GriscOm.
BUT ONE ISSUE NOW.
That is the Immediate Payment
of Promised Indemnity.
Permission to Rebuild Property
Doesn't Fill the Bill.

Constantinople. Wednesday. April 25.
The negotiations between the United
States and the porte regarding the
American indemnity claims have again
been transferred here. United States
Charge d'Affaires Griscom yesterday
handed to Tewfik Pasha. minister OK
foreign affairs a note based on instruc-
tions he had received from Washington,
the tenor of which has not yet, been
made public. It is understood however
that it demands prompt payment Of the
indemnity.
The note will be discussed at the
council of ministers today. Similar steps
by the other powers are regarded as i'm
minent. Charge Griscom, in the present
circumstances declines to express his
views
The only issue at present however. is
the execution of the portes repeated
promises to Minister Straus to pay
the indemnity.
After Mr.. Straus left the matter re-
mained in allegiance until the Associa-
ted Press dispatch from Washington,
April II sharply reminded the Turkish
government that the question required
urgent attention. The porte Immediate
" telegraphed to the Turkish minister
at Washington asking for explanation
of reported strained relations The min
lister replied that he had called at the
| state department and was informed
| that the situation has not yet assumed
a serious character. The words mot
| yeti seemed to have impressed the porte
and on the strength of this information
| the sultan issued an trade in regard to
| the Kharput matter which he hoped
/ would serve as a sop and defer pressure
/ in the demands for indemnity although
it is generally recognized that permis-
/ sion TO rebuild will be of little value to
the missionaries without the payment
| Of indemnity.
Another trade, issued April 25, orders
| Rear Admiral Ahmed Pasha to proceed
to America in order to study the con-
/ struction of battleships.
THE SULTAN'S DIFFICULTY. sls
washington. April 26.-It is. learned
that the note of Mr.. Griscom,, United
States charge at Constantinople, is
| founded on the state departments in
structions to press vigorously the claim
| for indemnity already lodged with the
! Porte. The note is not an ultima -un in
any sense, but is in continuation of the
expressed determination of the state de-
partment to exhaust all peaceful and
! proper means to secure a settlement Of
these American claims.
1t is not doubted that the Turkish
government would speedily meet our
desires in the matter could the claims
be adjusted privately and without the
knowledge of the European am mbassa-
doris in Constantinople but this is i'm
practicable, and the Turkish govern
ment is, it is believed. embarrassed at
the necessity of settling all the claims
of European countries for large sums
of money should the American claims
be allowed. The expectant attitude of
the European diplomatic agents in Con-
stantinopIe during the active prosecu-
ton of the negotiations is probably
the basis for such stories as that put
afloat to the effect that the Russian
government was secretly backing Tur-
key in opposition TO the settlement with
the United States. 1t is realized that
the Turkish government is noe at all
averse to the spread of a belief III the
truth of this story, but it is held bere
that there is no foundation in fact
| for it.