Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-04-28

" AltM WAS
the Thing Most TO be Desired.
CONSTANTIN0PLE, April 27.-Ths
American note handed to the Turkish
minister of foreign affairs, Tewfk Pa
sha, on Tuesday. is couched in peremp-
tory terms demanding immediate pay
ment of the indemnity several times
promised to Minister Straus by the
Sultan. The note does not fix a time
limit for an answer. but it's tenor Is
not far from the character OF an ulti-
matum. 1t has produced a great i'm
preston upon the Porte, which. how
ever, shows no disposition to modify
the attitude hitherto maintained
namely, repudiating the responsibility
and seeking to diminish the Importance
of the matter. 1t is presumed that tho
Porte's reply will be in this sense: and
hence it is feared the United States
government will be obliged to take
steps to enforce its demands.
Turkeys decision to send an officer
to America to study naval construction
is interpreted to be another sop. II is
the revival Of an old project to buy a
cruiser in the United States, In the
price of which the indemnity shall be
included, so that the Porte will be able
to say it has not paid the indemnity.
The American government has already
~categorically refused such a compro-
mise, which would mean prolonged me-
gotiations and the dragging out of the
matter indefinitely, to which the United
States will not listen. AS regards the
indemnity, 1t is in the nature Of a
debt of honor. II the Porte wants to
buy a cruiser. that is a matter in no
way connected with the indemnity.
The Porte's reply to the last collec-
tive note on the subject of duties has
not been made, and the embassies are
exchanging views in regard to the
terms on which to consent TO an In
crease of duty. 1t is thought that be-
fore the beginning OF negotiations tho
embassies will invite the Porte to sbalH,
fish ransoms and measures introduced
in violation of treaties.
Twenty arrests have been made OF
Mussulmans alleged to be sympathiz-
ers with the Young Turkish party.
WASHINGTON, April 27.-Beyond
the statement hat Mr.. Griscom. Unit
ed States charge d'affaires at Constant
tinople, has been instructed to press
vigorously for the payment OF tho
American claims for indemnity, the Of
ficials here decline to divulge the ma
ture of his instructions. They say
that Mr.. Griscom does not need ex-
press instructions to forward tho
claims, for he has of his own volitlon
taken a rather advanced attitude In
this matter, and the presentations he
is now making, though this time by ex-
press instruction, are in no respect
more peremptory than his own preced-
ing deliveries to the Turkish govern
ment.
One effect of this sudden application
of pressure upon Turkey is a renewal
of the application from American
holders of other claims against Turkey
for a presentation Of their cases. Save
the missionary claims. the 100000 in
demnity contains only n small allot-
ment of about $1,000 for the benefit
OF the family OF the bicyclist Lentz.
who was killed in Turkey while maxi
ing a circuit of the globe. But it is be-
lieved that, however well founded the
other outstanding claims may be. tho
present time is not regarded as pro-
pitious for urging them upon the at
tention of The Porte. and 1t Is exc
pected that nothing will be done to
divert the negotiations from these mis-
sionary claims as the main issue.