Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-11-30
DISPUTE WITH TURKEY
MINISTER CHEKIB BEY PRO
NoUNcEs CRISIS NOT SERIOUS.
Says That bitches Will Always Occur
Even in the Smoothest Relations
Between Countries.

In an interview last night regarding the
trouble between Turkey and the signatory
powers to the Berlin conference, Chekib
Bey, the Turkish minister, commented I'M
officially on the situation and asserted his
personal belief that the crisis was not seri-
Gus, that the question would be settled ami
cably and that everything Was satisfactory
in that which concerned the United States
in Turkey The minister, after explaining
that he had no official advices said:
"Of course, hitch exists somewhere. but
bitches will always occur in the smoothest
relations ina ginable between any two coun-
tries. But l believe that what is called
naval demonstration by the powers Is in
reality nothing serious. The European
powers usually have ships near Turkish
waters. But / assure you that the
whole affair will be settled amicably: Ii
Turkey is right. then the powers will ac-
knowledge 1t; If the powers are right, then
Turkey will do likewise.
AT no time has the sultan ever directly
or indirectly caused or aSsailed a bloody
conflict between the Christians and Mus
suln1ans to take place. In Turkey abso-
lutte liberty of religion is allowed, and the
average MussulmanS will never speak on
subjects In which religion enters, preferrlns
to leave such topics uncommented upon.
Naturally, the average person Will resent
any interference in his own religious beliefs.
Yet you cannot recall any occasion Where
the Christians were massacred because OF
that. In newspapers there Is often NEIL
toned an Armenian massacre, which Is
purported to be the murder of number
of Armenians by our people, whereas IT Is
the contrary, and those same Armenans
are probably living today in this country
free as either you or /. They escaped to
America after France had refused to re-
ceive them My government is always mis-
understood in the position it takes to sup
press riots of any sort, usually being
blamed as melting them. Yet, II some com
mon sense is used, 1t Is evident that the
authorities cannot always learn of fnclpi-
ent troubles and thus be ready to prevent
them That would be mind reading of the
most difficult sort.
For this reason no danger is incurred by
foreign residents in Turkey. There is no
need of a struggle with the Christian world
Abdul Hamid is a just ruler, much misun-
derstood, and that he will resist the en-
croachment of the powers by nasSacr1ng
Christians is preposterous. If we are wrong
we will acknowledge 1t, but If We are not
we wish it-as you would. were you in the
same position-understood."
Replying to inquiries the minister said
that while the question of likelihood of call
ing on President Roosevelt to act as arbi-
traitor was purely conjectural, he would
personally welcome the President in such a
role for he added che is a just, but
discreet man, and justice would be melted
out by him. He is liked very much by my
people
Referring to talk of the respective lega-
tons a Washington and Constantinople be-
Ing sometime raised to embassies, the MN
lister said
Both countries would welcome 1t, but
the importance attached to such change
must not be misunderstood. 1t is the re-
suit, probably, of America finding the need
of more ambassadors. In place like Con-
stantinople, where all the powers are rep
resented by ambassadors, for America to
have a representative of the same rank
would be only natural. The desire, l as
sure you, is mutual.
1.-The commercial relations between Tur-
key and the United States are very cordial
although they could be bettered. But 1
could not point out a way of improving
them. Commercial representation is good
and 1 suppose that 1t would not be hard
for American houses to trade with my
oountrymen, after their travellers have
learned the bearings of the country. l cam
not tell you what 1t is that America sells
most of to us, because very little stuff is
imported directly We get many things
mainly through England and Germany and
France"