Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1900-04-20

Turkish Minister Call on Hay
Is Uneasy Over the Present
Situation
Washington, April 2oAli Ferrouh
.Bey, the Turkish minister. called at the
state department yesterday and had
short talk with Acting Secretary Hill.
When the sultan's envoy returned to his
or harem, as he calls 1t, he
was in "a state OF mind. He immediate
" cabled his government, and It is
known that he is exceedingly anxious
as to the outcome of this episode.
sterday was the nrss appearance of
Ali Ferrouh in the International negoti-
ations, and the information Impaired to
him by DIR. Hill was apparently of an
exceedingly unpleasant nature. Assist
ant Secretary Hill did his best to con-
vince the Turkish minister that the
United States government is thoroughly
in earnest and that this claim of SSS.000.
for destruction of the mission buildings
at .Harput must be paid.
1t is Well understood here that, having
once set out to collect this claim, the adj
imiIlistration intends to see the thing
thru 10 the end, and that no tricks of
evasion. such as the porte has practicedl
on other governments. Will be tolerated.
The United States has gone so far that
its pride IS at stake. and II is practically
impossible for it to retreat now without
a loss of dignity.
Tho thoroughly understanding the
gravity Of the situation. the Turkish
minister, true to the instincts of his
school of diplomacy, is doing his best to
raise defensive Issues. He claims that
his sovereign, the sultan. never prom
sised to pay this claim, and that in say
ing he did Minister Straus Is mistaken.
Minister Straus has more than once In
formed the state department. that pay.
lmeEt of this claim was promised him by
the porte. On the other nand, the Turk.
sish minister claims that all Mr.. Straus
ever received was information thru a
5dragonan that his representations
would be investigated, and If founded
on justice would be made the basis of
an indemnity of proper amount.
Ii Is minated from the same source!
that no matter whether Ali Ferrouh is
dismissed from Washington or not, MIR.
Straus has made himself an Impossible
quantity at Constantnople by his flat
contradiction of the Turkish official
statement. Obviously the American
can doSnoth!ng but stand
sGlarely5 by the representations made to-
1t by its minister 10 Constantinople.
Ali Ferrouh Bey is putting on the best
possible face under the circumstances
He says he has been assured at the state;
department that publication of the
threat to hand him his passports was
not authorized by the department
He further shows that he is a. blum
sdering diplomatist by saying to news
paper representatives that the spring
ing of this matter is too close to the
appearance of the president a. the
meeting of the foreign mission So
lcieties for 1t to be considered seriously.
This insult to the head of the gov
eminent to which he is accredited may
receive attention at the state depart
yment. II the department can officially
satisfy itself that the Turkish minister
used these words it will probably hand
him his passports in a hurry. 1t is ex-5
.pected, however, that Ali Ferrouh will.
avail himself of diplomatic license and
5disavoW the offensive expression.
Friends of the Turkish minister say
that discontinuances of diplomatic rela-3
stions between Constantinople and
Washington might be gerry valuable to
Turkey in thatit would give the sultan
Il long desired chance to denounce cer-.
tain burdensome treaties between the
United States and the ottoman empire.
t.,f ie.s stvt nj afc sf,
cred important to Americans residing
in Turkish dominions, guarantees ex-
straterritoriality TO American citizens.
This treaty was concluded shortly after
Admiral Decatur punished the Tripoli-!
tan pirates, and provides that any
American accused of any crime or mis-
demeanor within the bounds of the
Turkish empire shall3not be triedin the
native tribunals, but shall be remanded
10 the consular courts OF the United
States for trial and punishment accord
ing to American laws.
This is a privilege not granted TO the
subjects of any other power and its ad :
vantages are of peculiar Importance to
the missionaries resident in Turkey.
To lose 1T would far outweigh the profit
of receiving the small indemnity
claimed on account OF damages sus-
tained during the Armenian trouble.
There Is a hint also in circles ac-
quainted with the Turkish diplomacy
that there are other bulwarks of pro-
lection from the wrath OF the American
government. In the Sulu islands there
are more than 3,500.00D Mohammedans,
whose devotion to their calipha is all
most fanatic. The sultan would have
but to lift his finger and these Malays
and Moros would join forces with the
Tagalogs. The war In Luzon would be
extended in every direction turnout the
island and the American forces would
necessarily have to be increased many
fold before peace was restored.
Notwithstanding all these efforts to
set up defensive propositions, 1t is be-
slieved the American government will
drive straight ahead and that Turkey
will be forced to pay or have a white
squadron in the Dardanelles.
Strauss Is Noncommittai.
New York, April 20. Oscar S.
Strauss, United States minister to
Turkey. talked guardedly4 yesterday
about the controversy between the
United States and Turkey. He admitted
that the situation in relation to the
| non .naymenf nf f1,a Armenian fndeu.