Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-09-17
Wilson Has No Intention or
Sending Vessels to Relieve
Missionary Fears.
AWAITS PORTE'S REPLY
ON HIS TREATY PROTEST
Will Not Press Discussion Of Abro-
cation Of Extra Territorial
Rights Until War Ends.


present of sending American battle
ships to Turkey to relieve the fears OF
missionaries, according to statements
of high officials today. He is consider
ing the question raised by the abroga-
ton of treaties by Turkey and awaited
reply to the protest sent to the porte
yesterday, when Ambassador Morgen-
.thau at Constantinople was instructed
by Secretary Bryan to inform the
Turkish government that the United
States does not acquiesce in the re-
ported intention of the Turkish gov
: eminent to deprive foreigners OF their
, extra-territorial rights. . ..a
To Defer Issue Until After War.
Secretary Bryan, in a paraphrased
, statement of the cablegram to Mr..
Morgenthau, says: This government
does not recognize that the Ottoman
government has a right to abrogate
the capitulations, or that it's action to
this end, being unilateral. can have
any effect upon the rights anr privi-
leges enjoyed under the capitulatory
conventions" -
!, The ambassador was further in
structed to advise the porte that the
: Washington government would re-
serve for the present discussion of the
grounds upon which it based it's re-
fusal to acquiesce in the action of
Turkey and also reserved the right to
make further representations in the
matter later
Its desire not to become entangled
in the intricate web of European di-
plomacy on which possibility of war
between Turkey and other European
reason for the delay in taking up the
matter. Fearing that it might be
misunderstood. the Washington gov
eminent will postpone further discus
sion of the subject until the war is
ended.
1t is believed that meanwhile the
protest will cause Turkey to use ex-
IRENE care in the treatment accorded
Americans in the event the porte car
r1es out its announced intention to do
away withs the extraterritorial rights
of foreigners beginning October l.
The nat declaration that the United
states did not recognize the right OF
Turkey to abrogate its capitulations
is one which the other European
powers also have made in their pro-
tests.
The peculiar conditions under which
foreigners have been given special
privileges in Turkey for more than 400
years and the numerous treaties under
which the usage has been established
will be the basis for the American
governments contention that in this
foreign governments until such condi-
lions shall arise in the Ottoman en-
pire which will be a complete guaran-
ty for the protection of foreigners
and their interests.
Not the First q. 8. Objection.
The objection of the United States to
tory, the American government, as
fully thwarted previous attempts by
Turkey to free herself from what she
regarded as a restriction of her SOW
ereignty.
The American government always
has been jealous of the maintenance
of its extraterritorial rights in Turkey.
for through their peculiar influence
Americans brought their missions,
schools and hospitals to Turkey; for
eign interests invested their money,
and missionaries as well as other for
eigners resident felt safeguarded
against religious opposition or native
uprisings.
Turkey has contended through her
ambassador here that the United
States enjoyed these privileges only
through a most favored nation clause
and that when the capitulations with
y the other powers were abrogated the
United States was merely deprived of
an incidental privilege. In this view
the Washington government does not
concur. for it claims the treaty of 1890
between the United States and Turkey
!. specifically granted these rights to the
United States. One article in the treaty
of 1880, granting certain extraterri-
torial privileges. has been in dispute
ever since the convention was signed
Issue Never Finally Determined.
The treaty of 1862 did not attempt to
interpret the article, but merely grant
ed the American government all the
privileges which 1t had offered in the
former treaty and favored natior
treatment. SO that the question never
has been finally determined 1t is one
Of the Oldest American diplomatic con.
troyersies.
The following statement issued by
Mr.. Bryan is paraphrase of the
cablegram sent to Ambassador Nor
-genthau:
you will bring to the attention
of the Ottoman government that the
government of the United States does
-