Evening star., 1914-11-22


not a hostile act, but that explanations
had been asked from the Turkish gov
ernment.
Officials Puzzled.
Official Washington was puzzled for
a time when it became known at the
Navy Department that Capt. Decker
had first described the firing as "an
act not hostile, but unfriendly." This
cryptic phrase had been omitted, Sec
retary Daniels said, from Capt. Deck
ers original report as made public
because the message was garbled and
whether or not it should have read.
not hostile, but friendly"
When the cable companies verified
the word as 'unfriendly," Secretary
Daniels came to the conclusion that
Capt. Decker had merely expressed
personal opinion and could not have
known the motive of the land forces
in firing the shot.
Question as to Rights.
There Is some question in the minds
of diplomatists here as to the right
of small boat to enter closed
port. for by its size and equipment
it's mission is obviously seen to be
friendly. There is no exact precedent,
however. and as the incident ocr,-red
within the territorial waters of Turkey
the sovereign right of the latter to
make and enforce her own regulations
for launches to enter Turkish ports
in the future it is considered most
probable that previous arrangement
will be made by the American con-
sulate.
officials here are at loss to under
stand why such an arrangement was not
made in the case Of the Tennessees
launch and await further advices as to
this and the general situation before
they will be able to form a final judg
dent.
Presents Special Case.
That Smyrna presents almost u special
case as apart from the entire situation
in Turkey is the belief Of officials
familiar with the trend of previous dis
patches. The American colony of fifty
has been reported as panicky ever since
last May. Frequently before Turkey
entered the war the American consul was
anxious for the safety OF his consulate
and Americans. Ambassador Morgenthau
transmitted his reports of alarm and
once asked for warships. Since that time
conditions were reported as improved.
While the Washington government
does not anticipate any difficulty with
the Ottoman government itself over
the conditions at Smyrna, it may fndi-
cate clearly to the latter an urgent de-
that it will not be necessary to send
American vessels to the harbor to
look out for American interests. This
guarantee, it is believed, may be ex-
tended to Americans in all parts of
and Asia Minor.
Turkish Embassy Statement.
Abdul Hak Hussein Bey. charge of
the Turkish embassy here. issued the
following statement last night:
Il am very glad to hear that definite
news has been received tonight by the
United States government from Con-
stantinople to the effect that the fir
ing on the launch of the United States
ties at Smyrna was merely a warning
that the entrance to the harbor was
dangerous. owing to the existence of
mines. Although the embassy has been
without any information on the sub
ject. 1 always held the opinion from
the outset that the firing was simply
precautionary measure, and not the
outcome of any hostile intent on the
part of the Turkish authorities. This
is as it should be.
THE most cordial relations have al
ways existed between the two govern
mentS, and it is the desire of both the
Ottoman government and people that
such relations should always be MAIN
tanned.
Repudiates Statements.
"I should like to take this oppor-
tunity to repudiate certain statements
which have recently appeared in the
press insinuating that rigorous and in
territorial censorship on the part of
the Ottoman authorities was the cause
of the unnecessary delay in the exchange
of cablegrams between Turkey and the
United States. This is not So Censor
ship undoubtedly exists in Turkey ut the
present moment as it does in other coun-
tries with whom Turkey is at war, and
through which the messages have to pass
hence the delays. In proof of this /
may mention that this embassy has not
received a single cablegram since close
upon n month. 1t has no official in
formation even of the existence Of war
between Turkey and the allies. The last
cablegram received at the embassy was
Il message from the imperial Ottoman
government to the government of the
acknowledgement of a generous gift from
the American Red Cross to the Ottoman
Red Crescent Society in ConStantinople."
DI DIAN nTITF OT0nTn