New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-04-24
OVER TURKEY
PRESIDENT TAFT LOOMS
TO BRITAIN FOR AID.
asks What Steps Haze Been Taken
for Protection of Missionaries
and Christian ArmeHidnS.
rE-nn The Trihune Bureau. J


Washington April 23-By direction of the
President the State Department to-day sent ols-
patches TO the American diplomatic representa-
tives in London and Constantinople asking them
to make informal inquiry of the British govern
ment as 70 what measures have been taken Tor
the protection Of missionaries and Christian AT
lnenians in Turkey. The dispatches say that
President Taft. out of humanitarian interest IN
the present situation and because Of the anX-
ety which is felt by Americans and Arn1enans
IN this country. would be glad TO learn exactly
what is being done by the British government
toward safeguarding the people in whom he
feels deep interest.
1t is impossible for Secretary Knox to make
direct inquiry of the Turkish government for
the reason that the United States is not a sig
natory 20 the Berlin convention Of 1873 by
which the Sultan guarantees the protection Of
Christian Armenians who have al various times
been disturbed by the Moslems The state De
partment has taken the only other course-that
of relying on Great Britain and the other sig
natories 20 the treaty TO protect American IN
terests and TO keep the State Department in
formed as to the measures adopted until the
United states ships arrive on the scene.
The State Department is being deIuged with
kilograms from various parts OF the United
States inquiring anxiousIy as 10 the steps which
sionsrIes A number of Armenian societies have
also appealed to the department TO see that their
compatriots are defended under the American
flag Recent dispatches from the United States
embassy at Constantinople assure the State De
partment that everything possible is being done
hv the officials there, both Turkish and foreign
10 guard American interests at Adana and other
places where disturbances have occurred.
The chief anxiety is felt for the Christian
schools in the districts outside Constantlnopie.
There are about fifteen of these institutions
and the attendance ranges from five hundred TO
one thousand As the main body of the Turkish
army is centred about Constantinope. the State
Department is somewhat anxious as to whether
adequate protection can be afforded these schools
IN case they are attacked by iawless bands II
has been decided TO send the revenue cutter
Tehonna to Turkish waters soon as she ar
riyes at the Azores. She is a l,900-ton vessel
and carries an effective battery
The vice consul at Mersna has telegraphed 10
many surrounding cities TO find out the conol~
tion Of the Americans and Christian Armenlans
and he reports TO the State Department that the
missionaries in his vicinity are safe He also
SAYS tina: the Americans at Hadjin say the sit
nation js Incoming desperate and confirms the
nress reports that D. NJ. Rogers and Henry
uaurer we're killed in the massacre at Adana
last THURSDAY Secretary Knox hopes to nave
more comprehensive insight into the situation
by tomorrow, and doubtless will make an an
no,,ncen,ent which he hopes will reassure those
Il, America who are anxious about friends IN
Turkey.
president Taft and his advisers are also
greatly perturbed over the conditions al Ia
triz. Persia A dispatch has been sent to 81
Petersburg indicating that as there Is nothhS
,,,o-e the American government can do TO re-
liave the situation at Tabriz the State Depart
mept will have to rely on the Cars government
for guarding American citizens