The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-08-28

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termined upon as a result of conferences
which have been held over the telegraph
and telephone wires between the official
with the president at Oyster Bay. The
latter felt that no time should be lost in
dispatching Admiral Cotton's squadron 20
Turkish waters, and he gave instruc
lions to acting Secretary Darling that
immediate orders be given Cotton to
proceed at once.
The presidents determination to lose
no time in getting the squadron to Bel
rut was also due in part to information
received by Acting Secretary Loomis of
the state department from the president
of the American board of missions at
Boston indicating that an attempt had
been made to burn the Euphrates col
lege building at HarpoOt. This dispatch
said:
Information just received that an at
tempt has been made to burn the
Euphrates college buildings. Conditions
increasingly alarming Great anxiety
felt for the safety of American citizens
there" Acting Secretary Loomis last
night cabled to Minister Leshman at
Constantinople to make demands on the
porte to take adequate measures for the
protection of all Americans at Beirut
and to prevent any attack on the college
buildings
hold his squadron in readiness to pro-
coed at "A moments notice to Beirut
cabled the navy department as follows
under date of Nice, France:
Gable just received. Machias at &C.
noa for coal. Brooklyn has seven days,
San Francisco six and a half days coal
at ten knots Cannot exceed that speed
with Machias. If squadron going west
should coal at Marseilles. If east, Ge-
noa.-Cotton."
Admiral Cotton's instructions are to
sail at once. 1t is probable he will go
ahead to Beirut with the Brooklyn leaV-
H. ~ 1aDG 60 N
TO follow. 1t is estimated that the
Brooklyn, going at full speed, can reach
Beirut within six days.
Acting Secretary Loomis has received
q rather remarkable cablegram from
Minister Leishman in which the latter
stated that he had called at the Turk
fsh foreign office at Constantinople to
inquire about the assassination OF the u.
s. vice consul and that the minister of
foreign affairs emphatically denied any
knowledge of the report. He also at
tempted to discredit it, The cablegram
gave no further information. Under the
circumstances the state department Of
ficials are inclined to believe that the
Turkish foreign Office is not in touch
with the situation at Beirut. They do
not attach sufficient Importance to Min
lister Leishman's last message to cancel
the order for the squadron to-sail.
Acting Secretary Darling and Cap
tain Cowles of the bureau of navigation
are in conference. Acting under the in
structions of the president that Ad-
miral Cotton's squadron be directed to-
proceed to Beirut, Mr.. Darling cabled
recting him to go to Beirut at once.
The presidents instructions on this
point will be carried out to the letter.
The president manifested anxious in
terest in the announcement of the as
sassination of Vice Consul Magelssen,
the first information concerning which
was conveyed to him by a report of the
Associated Press.
Shortly afterward he received from
Acting Secretary of State LOOMS tele-
gram communicating to him Minister
Leishmans cablegram concerning the
murder and advising him of the steps
already taken by the state department
The president is in close communica ton
fully advised of the details of the Incl
dent as they are ascertained.
For several days President Roosevelt
has been following closely the develop
ment of the situation in Turkey. With
the country in such a turmoil as now
prevails almost anything is likely to
happen. With a view to considering the
subject the more carefully the president
and Secretary Hay had arranged for a
conference today at Sycamore Hill. At
the conference the president and Secre-
tary Hay will consider the Turkish stu
alton and probably will reach some con-
clusion as to the attitude of the United
States respecting the late serious phase
OF the matter.
In the absence of definite information
concerning the assassination of the vice
consul the president will take no decid-
ed step beyond that already taken in or
dering the European squadron to Beirut
This action is viewed now as a precau-
tionary measure. 1t is the determina-
ton of the United States to support its
demands upon Turkey for the punish
ment Of the murderer or murderers of
Consul Magelssen but until the circum-
stances surrounding the murder are
known officially and precisely the United
States. ii is stated. will not take any
drastic action. A demand that officials
of the United States be afforded
protection for their lives and property
Will be made and the Turkish govern
ment will be held responsible for the
assassination of Consul Magelssen,
whatever may be the circumstances Of
the case.
President Roosevelt is concerned over
the situation because it indicates an in
tolerable condition of affairs in Turkey.
He recalls the fact that only recently
Russian consul was murdered in Tur-
key
The European squadron is so situated
that 1t will require several days for il
to rendezvous at Beirut. Meantime the
official of the state department will be
fully advised by Minister Leishman of
the details of the crime and the presi-
dent will then be in a position TO pre-
sent to Turkey the demands of the
United States with a naval force on the
spot Of sufficient strength to enforce
them adequately.
PARIS COMMENT.