Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1914-09-04
Cruiser North Carolina With
Sl50,000 ,on Board for
Americans Not Permitted to
Pass DardaneI|es.
ITALY AND GREECE TO
FIGHT AGAINST SULTAN
Only Question of Ottoman
Mobilization Stands in Way
of Immediate Conflagration
in Near East.

lev soss,sa sJorssAl SPECIAL lsAsso wiHsf
Washington. Sept. 3.-Turkey has
refused to grant the request OF the
United States for permission TO send
the cruiser North Carolina through
the Dardanelles 10 Constantinople to
deliver sl50,0O0 In gold deposited
here for the relief Of Americans in
the Ottoman empire.
The grand vizier has informed the
American government that the wa
ters of the Dardanelles have been
mined and that II would be unsafe
for a vessel as large as the North
Carolina to 60 through the straits. lie
declared also that 1t might establish
a precedent for the passage of other
foreign warships and suggested that
the American naval yacht Scorpion.
on duty constantly in Turkish waters.
along with other light vessels that
serve foreign missions, be sent to sea
to meet the North Carolina.
situation Highly Critical.
This was the substance of long
cablegram received at the White
House and state department today
from Ambassador Morganthau. the
first message from him In several
days. He made no mention of any
declarations of war but referred to
the diplomatic situation as highly
critical.
The ambassador reports that all
Americans who wish to leave had
done so and he thought funds aboard
the North Carolina would be suffi-
clent for immediate needs.
In view of the delicate situation the
American ambassador suggested that
the plan of sending the Scorpion to
meet the North Carolina outside the
straits be adopted. The incident was
discussed at the navy and state de-
partments today and the North Car
olina, now at Falmouth, England, will
start tomorrow for the Mediterranean.
BY the time of her arrival officials
expect Turkey will have declared war
on either Russia or Great Britain. In
that event they deem 1t more prudent
to keep the cruiser away from the
scene of possible naval conflicts.
United States Recognizes Usage.
The incident served to recall to Of |
ficials past relations between the !
United States and Turkey on the pas
sage of foreign warships through the !
Dardanelles. The United States never !
has recognized the right of Turkey TO /,
close the straits to foreign warships
powers have agreed to it. The Amer I
can government has merely recog-
iized the custom of excluding foreign I
as a usage"
Secretary of State Fish. in 1873,
wrote in this connection to the Turk
sh government:
The abstract right of the Turkish I
government to obstruct navigation Of
he Dardanelles even to vessels OF war
n time of peace Is serious question.
The right, however, has for a long
line been claimed and been sanctioned
" treaties between Turkey and GER
ain European states A proper oe-
u1iuu may dItSt LOT It's 10 uiSputt tilt
pplieaDility of the claim to the Unit
d States men of war. Meanwhile ii
5 deemed expedient to acquiesce in
he exclusion
Will Not Press Request.
Officials agreed that the immi-
ence OF war in Turkey made 1t simi-
arly expedient at this time for the
.merican government not to press its
equest that the North Carolina bel
ranted passage. h
The Turkish situation was discussed
oday by Count Won Bernstorff, TIE
'erman ambassador, and A. Rustem
ley, the Turkish ambassador. and also
coupled the attention Of the British
nd French ambassadors. FHom
urkish officials it was learned that
ne first declaration Of war probably
'ould be against Russia and that T1lr-
ey's delay In announcing her inpan-
ons was due to her desire to COM
lete military preparations.
Greece and Italy Next.
Diplomats generally believe Greece
Ill Immediately align herself With
ne allies against Turkey If the latter
eclares war. The expectations also