Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-11-02
to get it confirmed we have got to fight

to get it confirmed we have got to fight
Germany.
Another reason why Mr.. Stratus should
remain is that. sooner or later. the United
States must revise its treaty with Turkey,
because of the recent change of govern
ment. Some intricate questions will be
coming UP which he is especially familiar
with.
The Turks are insisting that we should
recognize their administration as fully
civilized, and their courts as competent
to administer justice, and modify the ex-
tra-territorial policy which has always
prevailed. and under which foreign
offenders have the right to be tried by
the laws OF their own countries with the
consular representatives of their govern
ments sitting as Judges.
This Is a humiliating proposition for a
foreign power. 1t was recently yielded
to Japan by the United States and the
European nations, but still prevails in
China and Turkey.
The United States is inclined to con-
cede what is called the right of forum, !"
as soon as the present reorganization of
the Turkish courts is accomplished. That
| is to say. our government will consent to
the trial of criminal cases, in which
Americans are defendants. by the Turkish
| the American consul and the seatence to
| be executed under his observation.
There are several other important
points involved.
No Indemnity for Martyrs.
| 1t is not the intention of the United
States to claim indemnity for the murder
of Rev. D. Minor Rogers and Rev. Mr..
Maurer, Christian missionaries, at Adana,
Turkey, during the massacres of April,
1909, nor for the destruction Of the
schools, churches and other property be-
longing to the American missions.
| In the first place, the missionaries do
not ask for damages. They do not wish
to convert the death of two martyrs into
money, but want to convert it into great
er security for their lives and their prop
erty in the future and for the advance
ment of the cause they represent.
If the Turkish government will give
them greater freedom and broader privir
leges in their educational, medical and
| evangelical work they will consider that
| Mr.. Rogers and Mr.. Maurer did not die
| in vain.
Some privileges desired have already
been granted. Mr.. Straus has already Sc
cured for them firmins which give every
| American school and mission in Turkey
! rights and privileges that are not enjoyed
| even by Turkish institutions. Title to
| every one of the 16l different property
holdings of the American board of for
| eign missions can now rest IN tndt Or
ganizatiOn instead of in the name of some
! individual That was necessary until a
| few weeks ago. because the Turkish gov
| eminent would not recognize it's corpO-
rate existence.
| The government of the United States
does not wish to claim indemnity for the
| loss Of American lives and property dur
| ing the massacre. because the present
! government was in no sense responsible.
| On the contrary. the massacres were a
| nart of an unsuccessful conspiracy to
| overthrow it,
| To punish the present administration
| for the hostile acts Of it's enemies would
not only be unjust. but would weaken
its standing with the people. The Turkish
government needs and deserves the sup
| port of the foreign powers. and has all
| the trouble it can attend to at present