Evening star., 1914-11-22
Believed That Further Satisfactory
Statement Will Be
Forthcoming.
GUARANTEES ALSO EXPECTED
Protection of Americans and Their
Interests Desired-White
House Issues Note After
Conference.

planned through Ambassador
Morgenthau to the United States
that the shots fired toward the
launch of the United States
cruiser Tennessee last Monday
were meant as the customary
warning that the port OF Smyrna
was mined and closed.
Though the United States is
still awaiting formal answer to
the formal representations that
Ambassador Morgenthau was in
structed to make to the Turkish
foreign office, it is admitted by
government officials that all
danger of grave complications as
a result of the incident has passed.
This is the opinion expressed at
the White House and the State,
War and Navy departments.
Gets Full Explanation.
Ambassador Morgenthau reported
that two members of the Ottoman cabi-
net. the ministers of interior and war.
had fully explained the occurrence to
him. and high officials here said his
message was filed before the instruc-
tions sent from Washington to dis
&I,A toll <l,A
grand vizier could have been received
by Mr.. Morgenthau.
President Wilson and his cabinet re-
gard the informal explanation as a
certain precursor of a satisfactory
formal explanation and that guaran-
and their interests will also be forth
coming from the Turkish government.
Relieves Situation.
The message from Mr.. Morgenthau,
dated November 1S. but delayed en-
route, relieves a delicate situation. 1t
arrived last evening, and after be-
ing deciphered was discussed at a
conference between the President, Sec
retary Daniels and Acting Secretary
Lansing of the State Department.
After the conference the following
statement was issued at the White
House:
"Dispatches concerning the Smyrna
incident have just been received
from Ambassador Morgenthau.
which were sent before he had re-
ceiveJ any communication from the
State Department. He informs the
government that on the evening of
the day on which the incident oc-
CURED ton Monday last the OF
toman minister Of the interior In
hin, that the n1pr nf
the Tennessee had attempted to visit
Smyrna in his steam launch, pass
ing through the mine zone. con
trary TO the Turkish governments
regulations, and that the boat had
been stopped by warning shots fired
toward her.
Offers Use of Auto.
"Hc added that the governor gen
eraI after the incident had offered
to take the officer overland in his
automobile. The minister of war
later communicated with the am
bassador. fully informing him of
the Incident, and requesting that the
Tennessee, which was then at
Vourla, some distance from the har-
bor of Smyrna. should be with
drawn.
The embassy had some time ago
port of Smyrna was closed alike to
warships and merchant vessels. The
ambassador therefore requested
Capt Decker to withdraw, and he, of
course. did so, proceeding to the Is
land of Chios.
Owing to the extreme difficulty of
communicating with Constantinople
no further advices have yet been re-
ceived. Instructions had already
been sent to tho ambassador. We
fir,tr FL
reply to those Instructions"
Friendliness Indicated.
The fact that the governor general
of Smyrna had offered to take Capt.
Decker of the Tennessee by automobile
to the American consulate at Smyrna,
officials declared. indicated clearly the
friendliness of the Turkish officials.
The right of a belligerent to mine its
ports and exclude neutral merchant
men as well as warships is recognized
in international law, and the only
ground on which the subject probably
will be further discussed will be to
elicit from the Ottoman government
some definite guarantees respecting
the safety of Americans and their in
terests, so that it will not be neces-
sary for American warships to visit
Turkish ports.
Captains to Get Latitude.
Secretary Daniels announced that his
orders to the commanders of the Ten.
nessee and North Carolina. suspendins
the navy regulations which ordina rily
gave them wide discretion. would be in
effect only until the present incident was
explained. He intends to rescind that
| order today and give the captains of the
two American warships the same lati-
tupde they had previously enjoyed.
The vessels may not remain in Tur-
keys territorial waters. but will stay
| within half days sail in some of the
| islands now belonging to Greece.
Before Mr.. Morgenthau's dispatch was
received the White House issued a state
| ment saying the firing on the cruiser