Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-08-09
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Turkish Incident Discussed
at Cabinet Meeting.
PROBABLE + PROCEDURE
MINISTER LEIsHMAN MY 81
PART WITH SQUADRON.
Bombardment Of Ports Not Likely
Secretary Hay Advises Against
' Statement to the Public.

The Turkish imbroglio was one OF inc
subjects of discussion at the regular meet
ing of the cabinet today but to what emo
was not disclosed. The situation Is serious.
and may result In an open rupture oy the
least false move ON the part OF the repre-
sentatives Of either the United States or
Turkey. -. -
1t is understood that Secretary Hay made
full statement to- the President and cab
met today Of the circumstances Leading up
to the dispatch Of the United States war
ships to Turkish waters. 1t was suggested
that 1t might be- advisable to publish
statement on the subject in order that the
people of the United States might know
the real position of the government and the
exact nature of the demands made upon the
sultan. - -.
Secretary Hay. however. advised against
such a course at this particular time. as
the publica ton might. possibly interfere
with the success, of the administrator
policy. .....t4
Diligent inquiry at, the State and Navy
Departments today again failed to disclose
the exact purpose of the administration IN
sending -Iwarships to the Turkish port or
Smyrna. =; !. -
In one quarter, however, the suggestion
was made that Admiral JEWELS squadron
Is TO be placed at the disposal OF Minister
Ieishman and that he Is to be taken away
from Turkey in the flagship Olympia with a
view to emphasizing the keen dfspleasure
Of the United States ever the elusive and
di1atory tactics of the sultan in the con-
sideration of the long pending claims Of the
United States. -:'gi
Probable Procedure.
The severance of diplomatic relations
with Turkey involved In the withdrawal of
the, United States minister is considered
more probable than the seizure or bom-
bardment Of a Turkish port, which latter
proceeding would hardly be attempted In
advance of an open declaration Of war.
Admiral JEWELS squadron is expected to
reach Smyrna tomorrow or next day, and
further proceedings will be governed by the
conditions which may prevail at that time.
Minister Leishman Will undoubtedly en-
deavor to secure another audience with the
sultan with view to an amicable settle
ment of pending trouble.
In case the sultan should refuse to re-
ceive him or should fail to give satisfactory
assurances Of the prompt consideration of
the demands Of the. United States, it Is re-
garded as likely that the minister will sub
nit the demands Of; the United States in
the form of an ultimatum, allowing rea-
sonable time for. q compliance with its
terms, failing in which the United States
minister would withdraw from the Turkish
capital and the Turkish charge in this city
given his passports
Conservative officials are of opinion
that a severance OF diplomatic relations
is the extreme limit of possibilities of the
present strained relations between the
United States and the ottoman empire
and that there is nothing in the present
situation calling for the employment of
force with its resulting horrors of vio-
lence and bloodshed-
Conference With Jewell.
Owing to the reticenee of officials it /:
not known whether Minister Leishman will
go to Smyrna to consult with Rear Admiral
Jewell or whether the two will meet at some
other point in Turkey. Of course, the war
ships will not be permitted friendly acces.
to the Turkish capital and are not likely tt
attempt the passage of the Dardanelle:
without permission. 1t is therefore more
than likely that Minister Leishman will
board the admiral's flagship at some con
venient point in southern Turkey.
Smyrna is in Asia Minor and it is pos
sible that Rear Admiral Jewell may find il
expedient to take his fleet from there to Sa-
lonica, an important port in European Tur-
key, about the same, distance from Con-
stantinople. In view of the general interest
in the Presidents policy for the settlement
of the Turkish question it is believed tina,
an official statement on the subject will
shortly be promulgated from either the
White House or the State Department.