Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1900-04-24
SULTAN'S REVENGE.
Would Turn Millions of Mona M
meGanS in Sulu Islands
Against United States.

Washington, D. c., April 20.--The
President has not felt like sending man
of-war to Turkey TO enforce the claims
of the American missionaries for dam
ages suffered during the Armenian mas
sacre five years ago for fear it would pro-
woke the Turks to renew their persecu-
tiOn of the Christians and cost the mis-
sionaries their lives. The latter, how
ever, are willing to take the risk, and Of
ticials of the department of state and the
legation of the United States at Con-
StantlnOple are making inspections and
receiving personal letters from mission
airy boards and from the missionaries liv-
ing in Turkey asking the government to
compel the Sultan to keep his engage
ments, even if it becomes necessary to
lombard Constantinople and seize the
port Of Smyrna and hold it for indemni-
ty, as has been suggested.
American Patience Exhausted.
The Sultan must now be fully aware
of the gravity with which the United
States regards the existing state of af-
fairs. 1t Is uncomfortable that the Turk
ish minister in Washington has not
warned his sovereign of the American
attitude after officially learning at the
state department today that the matter
had not been magnifed by the publica-
tons, that the patience of the President
and the people had been exhausted and
that the prompt redemption Of the Sui
tan's repeated promises might have to be
peremptOrly demanded.
1t is intimated by diplomats familiar
with the situation that the Sultan of
Turkey does not care particularly Wheth
er an nltlmatum IS issued by the United
States because Of the neglect to pay the
claim for 100000 which the United
States is now demanding, after years of
promises, as he has means Of reprisal at
hand.
sultan Would Take Revenge.
There are in the Philippines more than
100000 Mohammedans in the Sulu is
lands whose devotion to their calipha is
fanatic. The Sultan would have but to
lift his finger and these Malays and
Moros would join forces with the Taga
los. The war in Luzon would be extend
ed in every direction throughout the is
lands and the American forces would
necessarily have to be greatly increased.
More than that, a break would give
the Sultan a long-desired chance to re-
nOunce certain treaties between the
United Sta tes and the Ottoman empire.
One of these, concluded shortly after
Commodore Decatur punished the Tri-
politan pirates, guaranteed that any
American accused of a crime or misde
meanor within the Turkish empire shall
be tried only by United States consular
court and be punished only according to
American laws. This is a privilege not
granted to the subjects of any other pow
err, and its advantages are Of peculiar
Importance to the missionaries in Tur-
key.
Approved in Constantinop1e.
Constantinople, April 19-The firm at
titude of the United States government
regarding the cElims of Americans for
losses and massacres in Armenia is en-
tirely approved in political and CONNER
cial circles, and IL is hoped that the
United States will steadfastly maintain
its demand, such course being the
only one likely to succeed. 1t is thought
that all the powers should follow the
same course, not only concerning indem-
mites, but also with regard to the in
crease of duty.
Negotiations regarding American in
demnity are now being conducted in
Washington owing to the presence there
of United States Minister Straus. When
the prohibition against American pork
was issued Lloyd G.. Griscom, American
charge d'affaires, addressed an energetic
note to the Porte.