The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-07-11
The TURK PAYS UP
NINETY-FIVB THOUSAND DOLLARS
HANDED OVER To MINISTER
LEISHMAN
FOR CLAIMS OF AMERICANS
Amount Is Accepted by the WASH
ingtOn Government in Settlement
of Damages Suffered by Amer
leans In Armenia.

WASHINGTON, July 10.-The state de-
partment has received the amount of the
American indemnity claim against Tur-
key, $4,000, through the American lega-
ton at Constantinople.
The money was paid by the Turkish
government to Mr.. Leishman, our min
lister at Constantinople; was by him
placed in the Ottoman Imperial bank and
drafts RENTED for the amount. These
drafts have just reached Washington.
AS is always the case, the claims IN
the aggregate considerably exceed the
amount of the indemnity actually paid,
but our government has expressed itself
satisfied with the payment. 1t assumes
full responsibility for the distribution,
the Turkish government paying down a
lump sum of $4,000 and leaving it to the
state department to distribute this
among the claimants at it's discretion
and after it's own fashion. 1t is stated
that as soon as the department officials
can prepare their list they will commu-
nlcate with tine claimants.
These claims are principally based upon
losses suffered by American missionaries
and educational institutions in Armenia
notably those at Harpoot and Marash,
but there are number of individual
claims such, for instance, as that of the
family of the unfortunate fbicyclist,
LenZ, the Pittsburg man Who was killed
by Turkish soldiers while attempting to
go around the globe on his wheel.
The state department officials feel the
greatest satisfaction at the settlement
of these claims. Secretary Hay had
been told by diplomats skilled in the
ways of Oriental diplomacy and expe-
rienced in the political conditions Of
Southern Europe, that he never would be
able to collect them,
HARD BILL TO COLLECT.
Not only was there extreme difficulty
in bringing any pressure to bear because
of the remoteness of Turkey, but we
had to contend with the jealousy of the
great European powers, most of whom
had claims against Turkey vastly larger
IN amount than ours and whose total
was beyond the ability of the Turkish
government to meet. For more than a
decade the American claims have been
pending. Minister Terrell initiated them;
Dr. Angel went over to collect them, ex-
pecting to be so engaged only a short
time but he returned unsuccessful after
several years in Constantinople. Then
Minister Straus took them UP, and when
he resigned he passed them along to
young Mr.. Griscom. The latter only
recently committed his heavy charge to
Mr.. Leishman, and while to the latter
minister belongs the credit of actually
cOlI6CllIlS the money, II IS SAID at the
state department that each and every
one of the officers has contributed valu-
able services toward the final settlement.
Meanwhile the state department natural-
ly feels gratified not only over the re-
ceipt of the money, but for the larger
reason that the Turkish government has
in making the payment, given a most
signal manifestation of the regard 1t en-
tertains for the United States and thus
has re-established effectually the very
best relations between the two countries
THE RUSSIAN EMBROGLIO
With the reply of Secretary Gage,
pointing out the impossibility of accept
ing Russia's proposition on the tariff
pending a decision by the
court, it is expected there will be no
further active negotiations ON this ques-
ton until the United States court rem
ders it decision in November, and Rus
sian officials in Washington who have
deferred their departure pending negotia-
lions, left today for Nara gansett, where
the embassy will be established for the
summer months, M. de Wollant being in
charge.
Mr.. Cages answer has been trans
nitted to St Petersburg.
UNDER WAR REVENUE ACT.
A statement prepared at the internal
revenue department shows that the total
receipts of the war revenue act from
July 10, 1898, the date the act went into
effect, to May 81, 1901, amounted to S3lO,-
053 1863, as follows