The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-04-24
NOTE FROM TURKEY.
The Porte Wants to Put American
Claims ON Status of Others.

Claims On status Oh Others.
WASHINGTON, April 23-The State De-
partment has received, through Lloyd
Griscom, the United States charge at Con-
stantinople. the reply of the Turkish gov
ernment to the latest representations of
the United States, touching the American
missionary claims. The communication was
taken to the White House by Secretary
Hay and, presumably, was considered by
the Cabinet at the special meeting to-day
Mr.. Straus, the United States minister to
Turkey, who had come over from New
York for the purpose of comforting with
Secretary Hay over the claims. called at
retary Hay before the Cabinet meeting.
The Cabinet made no public statement
touching the Turkish note beyond the mere
announcement that 1t was inconclusive and
left the subject still open for discussion.
1t was gathered that the very brief out
line Of the Turkish response cabled from
Constantinople, to the effect that the
American claimants must take their posi-
ton along with those of other nations.
does not convey accurately the tenor of the
whole note; though it is admitted that it
does set out properly one portion of it.
The opinion prevails in diplomatic cir
cles here that, assuming the Turkish gov
ernment has insisted in including the
American claims with the others, 1t has
played a diplomatic card of some strength.
Such an answer to the American demand
might well be calculated to deprive the
United States of the sympathy of the Euro
pean powers. as 1t places US in position
of seeking to extort better terms from the
Turks than are to be accorded to the claim
ants of other nations, or at least attempt
ing to secure precedence over them. which
amounts to the same thing. A reason which
leads to the belief that there must be some
qualification attached to the reported an
swer of the Turkish government, is the
fact that 1t would amount to total re-
pudiation Of the promises alleged by Mr..
Straus to have been made to him by the
Porte; while the proposition to the Ameri-
can claimants to throw in their claims
with those of other nations. is equivalent
to a declination to pay, inasmuch as the
Turkish government has not, for many
years. paid any of these foreign claims.
so far as Is known here.
It Is possible that the Porte has II in
mind to create commission for the set
tlement of all these claims, and is seeking
10 prepare the United States government
for a submission of its claims to such an
international tribunal The State Depart
ment however. is determined not to aban-
don the preferential position respecting it's
claims that IL has secured through the
Sultan's own promises, so ii is anticipated
that an energetic response TO this last note
will be sent to the Porte through Mr.. Girls
com. AS for Mr.. Straus. while he Is giving
the State Department the benefit OF his ex-
perience in conducting the negotiations, 1t
is improbable that he will ever appear
again officially in the negotiations. for.
after the tension that has been created in
the relations between the United States
and Turkey. as a result OF the minister S
recital of what passed between himself and
the Porte, 1t is scarcely expected that he
will return to Constantinople.
Lloyd Griscom has also cabled the State
Department that the Turkish minister for
foreign affairs has informed the ambassa-
doris that the Porte will not raise tariffs
without previous agreement with the pow
ers.