The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-09-05
MARINES IN TURKEYS CAPITAL
LANDED THERE 70 PROTECT THE
LEGATIONS -NONE or OURS.



Movements Of Our war Nessels.
WASHINGTON. Sept 4--Advices received
ny the State Department to-day from
John g A Leishman. the United States
Minister at Constantinople. indicate to
the officials here that a state of panic ex.
lists in the Turkish capital particularly
amone the representatives Of somc Of the
foreign Powers. This condition has been
produced hy the note sent by the Porte
to the legations. informing them that
enemies Of both Turkey and the Powers
We're believed to I've plotting against the
safety Of the foreign representatives and
that the Turkish Government hoped
the diplomatic body would take every
measure of protection
In informing the Department Of this note
Mr. Leishman said that the Sultan had
sent an additional armed guard, or kavdss.
to each legation and consulate, nclud-
ing those of the United States. and
that the Sultan had given every
assurance that he would be able TO protect
members Of foreign establishments out
side Of their residences or offices. The
diplomats were warned. however. TO take
every precaution to protect themselves
within their compounds.
Mr.. Leishman says that some OF the
foreign Governments have landed marines
from 'their station ships. He does not
suggest that the United States should
follow that example, but in view OF the
possibility of such a demand the officials
of the State Department gave consideration
%, hat md CHI no under the
circumstances.
They were very soon convinced. how
ever, that even IL the contingency arose
that might make radical action of this
character necessary it would be practically
impossible for American marines to go to
Constantinople.
The likelihood of any American war
ship going through the Dardanelles and
anchoring of Constantinople is regarded
as entirely out of the question. as the
Turkish Government is expressly for
hidden by her agreement with the Powers
from permitting any vessel Of war to pass.
Light vessels in the service of the legations
Of friendly Powers" and of Powers which
have the right to station vessels at the
mouth Of the Danube are excepted, but
the United States does not share in these
privileges, 1t was emphatically laid down
by the Powers in interest that the United
States could not send armed ships OF any
character through the Dardanelles for
any purpose, the privileges provided for by
treaty applying only to themselves.
1t might as well he understood that
nobody in authority under the Govern
h., ho ,I,c ~
ing that this Government ask for the privi-
lege of sending a warship to Constantnople,
Turkey ia bound to refuse a request of that
cha racter, and the Powers in interest are
bound to the same policy. The most that
may be done, and this is a remote con-
tingency. is to ask the Porteto allow Ameri-
can marines and bluejackets to serve as
guards of the United States Legation and
the United States Consulate General in
the Turkish capital. For the present no
step will be taken in this connection, and
il the worst comes to the worst Mr.. Leish-
man and his subordinates. with the members
of their families and other American citizens.
may have to take refuge aboard one Of the
foreign station ships now at Constan-
tinople or make their way in some manner.
under adequate protection, to the American
squadron on the European station.
The last American war vessel that passed
through the Dardanelles was the Franklin
This was in 1868. Admiral Farragut was
aboard. and the Porte thought it would
be the proper thing to ask him to come
with the ship up to Constantinople. But
the foreign Powers made such a commotion
hat fp,,,
of that sort The Powers laid down the
principle that under their treaty with
Turkey and under Turkish law any national
vessel Of any Power not signatory to the
treaty was prohibited from passing the
Dardanelles under any circumstances. That
rule has been in operation to this day
Ten years ago a request was made by
this Government of Turkey to permit the
second class cruiser Marblehead to go to
Constantinople. and another similar re-
quest was made in behalf of the gunboat
Bancroft, but both were refused on the
ground that Turkey was forbidden by her
agreement with the Powers to grant them.
The only possible exception that could
be made would he in the event of a war
between the United States and some Gov
eminent whose ports could be reached
by American warships only through the
Dardenelles, but permission to send a
feet by that route cannot be granted by
Turkey except when it would he TO her
advantage to have a defeat administered
to the country with which this Govern
ment is AT war
The armored cruiser Brooklyn and the
cruiser San Francisco are expected TO
reach Beirut tomorrow. II il now
believed that the furry over the reported
attempt on the life Of the American Vice
Consul there will have passed by the time
they arrive and that there will be no oc-
casion on their part for remaining In
view Of the developments at Constan-
tinople, the Navy Department. if President
Roosevelt consents, will probably order
the ships to keep ms near as possible to the
Turkish capital.