Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-04-24
Mr.. Griscom's Announcement Re-
garding the Porte.
UNDERTAKES 10 MEET ENGAGEMENTS
Some Time May Yet EIapse Be-
fob Payment.
I'll E Bu ArAN- WARNED

1t can be. stated by authority that the ne
gotiations respecting tho American mission
airy claims are progressing in the most sat
isfactory manner. in the Wow OF the gov
eminent. The Turkish government has on
its part, shown q, most comnlendable dispo-
siion to meet tho requests of the State
Department. and within its means has I'M
dertaken to do ait IN it's power to correct
the matters Of complaint set out by our
government
The department has received from Mr..
Griscom, the United States charge who,
by the way, Is showing excellent judgment
in the execution OF the delicate task con-
tided to him. cahlegram announcing that
the porte has undertaken to meet all of
the engagements 1t had made with the
United States minister respecting the pay
ment of the claims set up on account of the
destruction of the American mission prop
erty IN Turkey. OF course, 1t is not stated
when the payments win be made, and 1t is
surmised that owing to the many obligations
OF greater magnitude pressing upon the
porte some time may yet ciapse before the
money Is actually in hand.
A Recent Important Decree.
But the charge also confirmed the press
reports as to the publication by the porte
of an trade extending the privilege of re-
building the destroyed missions at Harpoot
and Harsan. and Of extending the Roberts,
the great American theological school, in
ConStantinople That action of the Turkish
authorities is regarded as Of an Importance
Tar exceeding the mere payment OF $9O,OO0
on account of property destroyed by mob.
1t amounts to a recognition of the right of
our missionaries to build their schools in
Turkey. and insures them against what
they regarded as gradual but absolute
exclusion from the domains of the sultan.
Under the Turkish law. buildings destroyed
under the conditions surrounding those at
Harpoot can be reconstructed only by spe-
cial permission of the porte If this per
mission is to be withheld entirely, then it
is only a question of time, and perhaps a
short time. too before all of the American
mission schools in Turkey will close up
their work.
Applications Pending for Years.
In the case of the Harpoot and Roberts
College schools the applications have been
pending for several years before the porte,
and several American ministers have vain
ly tried to forward them. Once an appli-
cation progressed SO far that 1t received
tho approval of the sultan. but by some
mysterious means it was made way with
by some one connected with the porte, and.
never having been officially promulgated,
was, of course, Of no force.
On the whole. the officials here regard Mr.
Griscom's cable as marking the safe pass
ing of what might have been regarded as a
point III the DeROtldtlOHS ana Iee
confident that in addition to this notable
concession the United States will secure
all of It's just claims.
The Porte Warned.
CONSTANTINOPLE,A April 24.-The porte
has received kilograms from the Turkish
minister at Washington. Ali Ferrouh Bey
| pointing out the bad impression created In
| the United States by the non-payment OF
| the Indemnity due and announcing the de-
| termination of the American government
| to insist upon a prompt settlement of the
| claims.