The midland journal., 1914-11-27
TURKS EXPLAIN
TENSION ENDS
ShOtT0wards TennesseeLaune
to Notify CraftOf Danger.
SMYRNA HARBOR MINED
Word Came At Critical Tlme--offeI
To Take american Commander
10 Consulate IN Turkish '
Automobile.

washington, D. c. Turkey has vol.
unfairly explained to the United States
Government. through Ambassador
Morgenthau. that the shots fired to
ward the launch Of the American
cruiser Tennessee were intended
merely 40 the customary warning thai
the port Of Smyrna was mined and
closed to navigation.
Although the explanation is in
formal and the United States Govern
ment still is awaiting reply to formal
representations which Ambassador
Morgenthau was instructed to make tt
the Turkish Foreign ONCE, it was
generally admitted at the White
House, State and Navy Departments
that all danger of serious complicatio4
over the incident had been removed.
Ambassador Morgenthau reported
that two members of the Ottoman
Cabinet, the Ministers of Interior and
War, had fully explained the occur
renee to him and high officials herd
said his message was fled before the
instructions sent from Washington to
discuss the subject officially with the
Grand Vizier could have been received
by Mr.. Morgenthau.. President Wilson
and his Cabinet regard the informal
explanation as certain percurser oi.
satisfactory formal explanation and
that guarantees for the protection oi
Americans and their interests win also
be forthcoming from the Turkish Gov
ernment.
The message from MI. Morgenthau,
dated November is. but delayed en-
route. relieved delicate situation. II
arrived late In the afternoon, and after
being deciphered was discussed at q
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:
The following summary Of q dis
patch received from Ambassador Nor
genthau. at Constantinpole, was given
out at the White House:
dispatches concerning the Smyrna
incident have just been received from
Ambassador Morgenthau. which were
sent before he had received any com
munication from the State Department.
He informs the Government that on.
: the evening of the day on which the
incident occurred the Ottoman Minis
ter Of the Interior informed him that
the commander of the Tennessee had
attempted to visit Smyrna In his steam
launch, passing through the mine zone.
contrary to the Turkish Governments
regulations, and that the boat had
been stopped by warning shots fired
toward her.
He added that the Governor-G Gem
eral after the incident had offered to
take the officer overland in his auto
mobile. The Minister of War later
communicated with the Ambassador,
fully informing him of the incident
and requesting that the Tennessee,
which was then at Vourla, some dis
tance1 from the harbor of Smyrna.
should be withdrawn.
"The embassy had some time ago
been officially informed that the port
Of Smyrna was closed alike to war
ships and merchant vessels The Am
bassador therefore requested Captain
Decker to withdraw, and he, of course,
did so, proceeding to the Isle OF Chios
Owing to the extreme dificulty of
communicating with Constantinople
no further advices have yet been re-
ceived. Instructions had already been
sent to the Ambassador We are still
awaiting the Ambassadors reply to
those instructions.
The fact that the Governor General
OF Smyrna had offered to take Captain
Decker Of the Tennessee by automo-
bile to the American consulate at
Smyrna. officials here declared, indi-
Gated clearly the friendliness of the
Turkish officials The right Of a
belligerent to mine it's ports and ex-
clude neutral merchantmen, as well as
warships. is recognized in interna-
tional law, and the only ground on
which the subject probably will be fur
ther discussed win be to elicit from
the Ottoman Government some
definite guarantees respecting the
safety of Americans and their inter
ests so that it will not be necessary for
American warships to visit Turkish
vanwfa