Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-09-04
FEAR OF OUTBREAK
TURKISH GOVERNMENT WARNS
MINISTER LEISHMAN.
Measures Taken to Safeguard the L.,
cation and Consulate General-As-
surance of Chekib Bey.

An American warship may proceed from
Beirut or Port Said through the Dardanelles
and land marines for the protection of the
American legation and consulate general at
Constantinople. The State Department
hopes such course will not be necessary,
but in the event the lives of Americans in
Constantinople in imminent danger
Chekib Bey, Turkish minister to the United
States. is authority for the statement that
his government would not object to the
passage of American war vessels through
the Dardanelles on a mission which GER
tainly could not be considered hostile to
the sublime porte.
This development in the near eastern
question grows out of news received at the
State Department this morning in a cable
gram from Minister Leishman stating that
he had added carasse military servants)
to the small force of the American legation
and of the consulate general to protect
the occupants against possible violence
from Bulgarian insurgents who might sue
ceed in eluding the regular guard stationed
at the buildings by orders of the sublime
porte.
AS understood here, the Turkish govern
ment has provided outside guards for all
the legation buildings and has suggested
that the legauoners make other provision
for their own protection by adding to their
regular force in order that no improper
characters secure entry to the legations.
In other words, the porte suggested that
the legationers add to their means of es-
all persons endeavoring to secure entrance.
Marines Landed From Ships.
Acting on the suggestion the Russian am
bassador and representatives of other Euro
pean powers have employed as extra guards
at the legations marines from the station
ships of the various nations now patrolling
the harbor of Constantinopie. Because of
the absence of a United States warship,
Minister Leishman compelled to resort
instead to the temporary employment of
Turkish caraSSe.
The United States will be in a position by
today or tomorrow to substitute marines
for carasse as a legation guard, to supple
ment the guard supplied by the Turkish
government Although no word has been
received at the Navy Department from
Rear Admiral Cotton, commanding the Ep-
ropean squadron, 1t is confidently believed
by the officials that the Brooklyn au1 San
Francisco will arrive at Beirut today and
the Machias at Port Said today or tenor
row.
The arrival of the Machias will be
known at the department at once but there
may be some delay in hearing from Rear
Admiral Cotton. who is on the Brooklyn.
for the reason that telegraphic communi-
cation with Beirut is subject to frequent
interruption and is sometimes impossible.
May Send the Machias.
In case it is found expedent to send q
war ship to ConstantinopIe, for service al
station Ship the Machias is most likely
to be selected. for the reason that there
would be less objection to a ship of her
size than to larger vessels, like the Brook
lyn or San Francisco.
The historic old Kearsarge now only a
relic and a name, was the last American
man-Of-war to visit the Turkish capital
That was about seventeen years ago. Since
hon hn fIa bod
represented at Constantinople for a short
time by the dispatch boat Dolphin. She was
there as station ship. just some of the
European governments are now represented
at the Ottoman capital.
In case the Machias does not go through
the Darda it is likely that she will go
to Smyrna. the nearest large port and send
squad of marines from that port overland
to Constantinople for the protection of the
American representatives.
Uneasiness Not Shared Here.
While the condition existing In CONSTANT
nOple. as we'll as in other portions Of Tur-
key, is extremely unsatisfactory, the Wash
tngton government does not believe that
there is any serious danger ahead. The
tone of the dispatch from Minister Leish-
man shows uneasiness, which is not shared
here. but at the same time the United
States approves every precautiOn taken by
the diplomatic corps and our minister for
the safety of the foreign representatives.
1t seems clear that the Turkish government
intends to protect all foreigners, and espN6
cially the embassies and legations. What
seems to be feared by the Turkish govern
ment is that fanatics or dangerous persons
may gain entrance to some legation and
perpetrate some outrage. The warning
which has been given to the foreign repre-
sentatives is that they may take steps to
protect themselves to that extent.
In his cablegram Minister Leishman In
formed the State Department of the note
of warning which he with the other for
eign enyoys, had received from the sultan,
to the effect that Bulgarian bandits were
said to be plotting against the embassies
and legations in Constantinople, IN the hope
of further embarrassing the porte.
Precautions to Be Taken.
Whether Minister Leishman made any
recommendations to the dispatch of war
vessels to the scene of action ould not be
learned as the text of the cablagram was
not made public. but it can be stated that
in the event that the situation warrants II,
either the Brooklyn, San Francisco or Ma
chias will be ordered to Constantinoplc. and
land marines for the purpose of assisting the
Turkish guards in protecting our legation
and consulate general.
1t is limited that in case the gravity of the
situation increases the sublime porte may
even go so far to call on the Washington
government to assist in the protection OF
lives and property of foreigners at the
Turkish capital SUCH course, 1t was said
Turkish minister was not altogether i'm
probable If events in Turkey continued to
go from bad to worse.
BY the treaty of Paris after the Crimean
war which was signed by Austria. Great
Britain, Russia, Sardinia and the Ottoman
government and to which Prussia was ask.
ed to adhere. 1t was agreed that in accord
ance with the old Turkish principle no ves-
sells of war should be admitted into the Dar-
danelles and the Bosphorous except light
vessels in the service Of the legations Of
friendly powers and Of powers who have the
right under the treaty to station certain
vessels at the mouths of the Danube
As this government was not one Of the
powers signatory to this treaty. 1t is neces.
sary for us to obtain the permission Of the
porte to proceed through the Dardanelle0
il our ships are to go unmolested, and a.
the entrance to the Dardanelles is one OF
the most strongly fortified points in all the .
world there is no disposition ON the part
OF this government to force an entrance.
Original Policy Maintained.