The Sentinel=record. (Hot Springs, Ark.) 1900-current, 1914-09-04
TURKEY
REFUSES
TO ALLOW AMERICAN WAR SHIPS
TO PASS THROUGH THE SAR-
DANELLES TO CARRY FUMES
TO AMERICANS.

Washington, Sept. 3.-Turkey has
declined to grant the request Of the
United States for permission to send
the cruiser North Carolina through
the Dardanelles to Constantinople TO
deliver $l500OO in gold deposited
here for the reief of Americans In
the Ottoman empire.
The grand vizier has informed the
American government that the
waters of the Dardanelles are mined
and that it would be unsafe for ves-
sci as large as the North Carolina to
go through the straits He declared
also that it might establish prece-
dent for the passage of other foreign
warships and suggested that the
American naval yacht Scorpion, on
duty in Turkish waters, be sent to
sea to meet the North Carolina.
This was the substance of a long
cablegram received at the white
house and state department today
| from Ambassador Morgenthau, the
first message from him in several
days. The ambassador made no men
ton of any declarations of war but
referred to the diplomatic situation
as highly critical.
| The ambassador reported that ail
Americans who wished to leave had
done so, and he thought funds aboard
the North Carolina would be suffice
lent for immediate needs.
In view of the deilcate situation
l.the American ambassador suggested
that the plan of sending the Scorpion
the straits be adopted. The incident
was discussed at the navy and state
departments today and the North
Carolina, now at Falmouth, England.
will start tomorrow for the Mediter-
ranean. She probably will touch at
Italian ports and take aboard Assist
ant Secretary Breckenridge, reaching
the Dardanelles in a week or ten
days.
BY the time of her arrival officials
here expect Turkey will have de-
cIared war on either Russia or Great
Britain In that event they deem it
more prudent to keep the cruiser
away from the scene of possible naval
conflicts.
The incident recalled past relations
between the United States and Tdr-
key on the passage of foreign war
ships through the Dardanelles. Tie
United States never has recognized
the right of Turkey to ciose the
straits to foreign warships in time of
peace, although European powers
have agreed to it.
The American government merely
has recognized the custom Of exclnd-
ing foreign warshlps as "a usage"
Secretary of State Fish in 1873
wrote in this connection to the Turk
ism government:
"The abstract right of the Turkish
government to obstruct the navlga-
tion Of the Dardanelles even to yes
sells of war in time OF peace is =,
rious question. The right, however,
has for long time been claimed and
been sanctioned by treaties between
Turkey and certain European states.
A proper occasion may arise for us to
dispute the applicability of the claim
to the United States men-of-war.
Meanwhile, it is deemed expedient to
aequiesce in the exclusion"
Officials here agreed that the out
look for war in Turkey made it SINH
larly expedient at this time for the
American government not to press its
request that the North Carolina be
granted passage.
| The Turkish situation discussed to-
day by Count Bernstorff, the German
ambassador. and Arustem Bey, tho
Turkish ambassador. and also occu-
pied the attention of the British and
French ambassadors. From Turkish
officials it was learned that the first
declaration of war probably would be
against Russia, and that Turkeys
delay in announcing her intentions
was due to her desire to complete
military preparations.