Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1903-12-18
AN INVESTIGATION IS ORDERED.
United States Official Breaks Off Re-
Iati0ns.

ConStantlnople (By Cable) Insult
ed and assaulted by the local police, the
American consul at Alexandretta, Ash
attic Turkey, Mr.. Davis, hauled down
the flag OF the United States from its
place above the consulate and left for
the city Of Beirut.
The affair has caused big sensation
and is regarded in very serious light
here.
The matter is engaging the energetit
attention OF the United States legation
here Minister Leishman has made
urgent representations to the Porte
and is now awaiting fuller report be-
fore taking further steps
The outrage, it is anticipated here.
will lead to strong action on the part
of the United States 10 obtain full
reparation, especially as full satisfac-
ton for the Beirut affair has not yet
been given.
The affair grew out OF the arrest OF
an Armenian, Ohanncs Attarian,
naturalized American citizen. Attariar
had been in prison at Aleppo for two
months, and had just been released
through the intervention OF the Ameri'
can consular agent on condition that
he would leave the country at once.
Mr.. Davis was accompanying At.
tartan on board a steamer when the
police intercepted the party, assaulted
and insulted Mr.. Davis, and, despite
the resistance Of the consul and his at
tendant guards, rearrestcd AttarIa7
and took him back 10 prison.
Mr.. Davis Immediately lowered the
flag over the consulate and, formally
broke off relations with the Turkish
authorities by quitting Alexandrctta,
leaving the consulate in charge OF the
vice consul. A mob OF Moslems seized
on the occasion to make hostile
demonstration against the consulate
and against the Christians generally.
The local authorities assert that Mr..
Davis struck the police with cane,
and that after the rearrest OF Attarian
the consular cavasses (lnilitary cour.
icrs) attempted 10 rescue him, and in
the fracas which ensued the cavasSes
broke the windows Of the prison.
The Turkish authorities further claim
that Attarian, who is native OF Diar
kekir, Asatic Turkey, has been travel
ing about the country with an illegal
pa. sport. They also point out that the
question of Armenians. naturallzed in
America returning to Turkey has. al
ways been a source Of trouble since
the Porte invariably refuses to recog'
nze naturalization.
When Attaran was arrested S25oc
was found in his pocket. This, it Is
tellcvd, may have contributed 10 his
arrest, the Turks suspectlng him OF
being a revolutioniSt.
Washington (SpeciaD, The State
Department has received brief cable
gram from Consul Davis at Alexand.
retta, Asiatic Turkey, saying that he
had had trouble with the local police
at Alcxandretta and had left for Bel
rut in consequence. The State Depart
ment promptly cabled Minister Leish
man at Constantinople TO institute q
thorough investigation OF the whole
affair.
The State Department has had end
less trouble with naturaized Armen
ians who insist on returning to Iur'
KEY notwithstanding the fact that tn
Turkish government has steadfasty
refused to recognize the rights OF .
Turkish subject to expatriate himself
and the most that our ministers and
consuls have been able to do in such
cases is to secure the release OF the nat
uralized Armenians or Turk upon
promise TO quit Turkey.