The Washington times., 1903-08-30
Official View of Situation Not
Greatly Changed by News
OF Americans Escape From
Death by Assassination.
Still Need for War Vessels at
Beirut--Missions in Danger.
Foreign COnsuIs Report Syria
as Unsafe for Aliens.

Secretary Hay sent a dispatch to
Minister Leishman in Constantinople
yesterday asking for a full report con-
corning the mistake in the dispatch
which announced the murder of Vice
Consul Magelssen at Beirut when he
had. in fact. only been shot at and not
injured in the slightest.
This error IN the use OF the cipher
code caused much confusion at the
State Department and brought about
action on the part OF the Administration
which might not have been taken for
some time, if at all, had the facts con-
been told in the dispatch.
The reported murder Of the vice con-
sui was thus responsible for the order
ing Of the European squadron OF the
United States navy to Beirut Appeals
from missionaries whose lives are
threatened at Harput and other cities
In Asiatic Turkey might have resulted
in the sending OF the European squad
ron to Syria. but this step certainly
would not have been taken at this time
IL 1t had not been for the erroneous
dispatch.
Still Need for Action.
Vice Consul Magelssen's escape, while
1t relieves SORROW concerning him per-
sonaliy, does not greatly modify Official
views OF the conditions prevailing IN
Turkey. Several OF the consuis at Beirut
have reported TO their governments
that the city is not at this moment safe
The local governor has taken prompt
action in the Magelssen affair. and
promises to make every effort TO find
and punish the guilty.
Missionaries are disquieted. Secretary
Hay is expecting 10 receive representa-
tive officers of the American board OF
commissioners for foreign missions.
who are coming to confer sxith him re-
garding information which they are
getting from Turkey. lie Will remain
in Washington as long as the Eastern
situation continues critical. While bad
conditions in Turkey are chronic re-
ports from all sources indicate that
the present state of affairs is extremely
serious.
Grave Situation at Harput
The missionaries at HarDut are in
hourly peril and those at less popnlous
eenters must be still more exposed.
Even Consul Ravndal sounds q tone OF
alarm when he reports that several Of
the foreign ccnsuls have notified their
governments that Syria is an unsafe
place for aliens.
Exactly what measures viii be adopt
eGr TO protest tAose persons situated at
distance from the seaboard is aot
yet decided, but in this Admiral Cottoa
viii be given free hard, and. shouli
the conditions warrant. ne may land
forces of marines. IT the State Depart
ment it is said This is an extreme meas
ure, but warranted under the law OF
nations whenever the ruling sovereign
proves unable to afford safety to sor-
eisners within his domain The DEPART
ment has already received assurances,
informal in their nature. from each OF
the powers interested in Turkish af-
fairs that no obstacles viii be placed
in the way OF the United States. re-
gardless OF the mode of procedure
No change has been made in the orders
to the European squadron to sail as soon
as possible for Beirut. The Navy De-
partment has been advised that the
Machias sailed Friday for Port Said.
The San Francisco and Brooklyn are
stil coaling- As IL is believed that these
vessels will not start for the East with
our taking on a large supply of coal,
they probably viii not sail for Beirut
before today. The Navy Department
has had no advice concerning their move
ments further than the announcement of
their arrival at Genoa and OF their pur-
pose to coal there