New-York tribune., 1910-06-25
From The Tribune Rureau.l
washington. June "A.

Washington, June "a
lNCENSED AT GERMANY. Extreme
irritation is felt by the officials of the De.
partment of state over the course of Ger
many in attempting to block American en-
terprise in Turkey in Asia. Certain Aneri-
can citizens of prominence have been seek
ing a franchise for railroad to cross Tur-
key in Asia from east to west, beginning
at Suetlia, on the Gulf Of Alexandretta
passing through Dairbekir, and having its
western terminus at Bitlis. Secretary
Knox, as has been told in these dispatches
has been lending every aid to this project
which he regards as eminentiy fair and as
destined ultimately to make stronger the
commercial ties between Turkey and the
United States besides affording an opening
for American capital and a market for
American supplies. Germany, however, for
reasons best known TO herself. appears to
be seeking to block the negotiations al
every point One of the methods employed
IS the circulation of the report that the
railroad is to be built by the great Ameri-
can octopus. the Standard Oil Company
which is wholly untrue. Admiral Chester
is one of the promoters and associated with
him are Charles \. Moore. the Brooklyn
Republican leader; Walter Laidlaw the
New York banker, and other men possessed
of considerable private capital. OF course,
Germany is not coming out into the open
TO oppose the American plans, but the evil
dences of her hostility are SO strong that
the Department Of State has no hesitation
in charging her with the immediate delay
of the negotiations.
AMERICAN PLAN GENEROUS.-Con-
trary to the usual custom of those dealing
with Oriental countries. the American capi-
talists who are seeking this concession are
not demanding the customary mileage
guarantee-that is. mileage SUBSIDY from
the government in case the road does not
paY-but ask only certain mining conces-
Sions along the line of the proposed road.
Germany is further suspected of spreading
the report that the concessions asked con-
stitute a violation of the Turkish mining
laws, but careful examination of those
laws by officials of the Department of State
fails to reveal any such violation It is
possible that certain German financiers
who are interested in the Ragdad railroad
fear the competition Of the proposed Amer
ican line. The latter will not parallel the
Bagdad line, but will cross it close to the
Gulf of Alexandretta, so that it Is quite
possible goods intended for shipment by sea
would be transferred to the American line
at the junction and loaded on vessels at
Suedia, which would deprive the Bagdad
line of the long haul to the Sea of Mar
mora or the DaTdanelles, although that
would. OF course. benefit the shippers by
just so much. On the other hand. with
some form of traffic agreement, the con-
Struction of the American road would
doubtless operate to increase the traffic
and thus prove of benefit to both German
and American investors.
A GERMAN PRACTICE.-There is some
disposition at the Department OF State tC
suspect that Germany Is following IN this
case the same course she pursued in Persia
when she attempted to check the negotia-
tions whereby Great Britain was seeking to
promote railroad building in that country
which she followed in Morocco. when she
suddenly became alarmed at the develop
ment of French interests, etc. It is quite
true that there are some diplomats who
maintain that long as Germany respects
American rights and interests in South
America ii is unwise for the United States
to resent any sort of German competition
or opposition in the Near East, but that