Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-08-26
Ambassador Rustem Bey De.
cIares His Government
Needed Ships Seized.
CONSTANTINOPLE'S STAND
is NOT KNOWN TO HIM
Secretary Bryan Says Americans in
Ottoman Empire Have Been
Reported in Danger.

A. RuStem Bey, Turkish ambassador,
| said today he was without information
| as to the stand his government will take
in the European crisis. because of inter-
| rupted communication.
Turkish sentiment has been outraged "
said the ambassador, ''by the taking over
by the British government of the two
| dreadnoughts just completed in English
shipyards for the Turkish government.
This action on the part of the British
government was entirely unnecessary.
The British navy did not need the war;
ships and they meant everything to Tur-
key. The vessels had Just been complet-
ed and were ready for their trials"
No Advices From Capital.
The ambassador said he had received no
advices from Constantinople since the
outbreak Of the war and had sent only
one message, because he felt sure that
messages from and to Constantinople
would be intercepted. He conferred with
Secretary Bryan, but declined to discuss
the conference.
Secretary Bryan said reports had been
received from time to time indicating
that Americans might be in danger in
said that as yet no requests had been
received to send American warships into
Turkish waters. Such action was taken
during the first Balkan war, when alarm
ing reports reached Washington of a
threatened massacre Of Christians.
o. S. Is Watching Turkey.
The United States is watching the sit
uation in Turkey, particularly on account
OF the presence there Of hundreds of
American missionaries. Ambassador Nor
ganthau has been making long reports
on the situation, and for time-a week
ago-the situation seemed alarming.
The governor of one of the Turkish
provinces had threatened massacre to
Americans If Turkey and Great Britain
went to war. Mr.. Morganthau immedi-
ately discussed the subject with the Turk
ish foreign office and received assurances
that If any subordinate officials had made
such threats they would be censured and
that Americans would be accorded re-
spect and courtesy in any eventually.
For time the Washington government
had under consideration a suggestion
from Ambassador Morganthau that a
Britain, France and Russia a salts
effect, but on the receipt of reassuring
advices from him the idea was abandoned
and officials here now declare there is no
CAUSE LUZ dldTlIl
Two Cruisers Nearby.
The cruisers North Carolina and Ten
nessee. now in European waters on a
mission Of relief. would be available in
case Of emergencies to bring Americans
away. Latest reports show that Ameri-
cans feel safe, and that their only diff
Guilty is in cashing letters of credit-a
problem, however, rapidly being solved
by the American governments board OF
relief. The cruiser North Carolina prob
ably will visit Turkey and other countries
Of southern Europe with gold for Amer
leans.
An acute situation has arisen in the
Balkan states over the possible entry
of Turkey into the European war, ac-
cording to official advices to the
American government from various
sources.
Britain, France and russia salts
factory explanation Of the entry into
the Dardanelles of the German cruisers
Goeben and Breslau. When it was first
reported that Turkey had purchaser
these vessels, Great Britain, France and
Russia demanded that the crews Of the
two ships be repatriated Immediately.
Dispatches revealed that German crews
e..ere still aboard the cruisers.
Italy Would Engage in War.
Many Washington diplomats familiar
with the situation consider it practi-
cally certain that should Turkey side
with Germany and Austria, Italy
would abandon her position of neu-
trality and join Great Britain. France,
Russia and Servia, who could count
also on the assistance of Greece.
Greece is under martial law with it's
army modified along the frontiers
watching Turkeys movements The
troops Of the Ottoman empire are
quietly modifying without public or
ders to that effect.
Italy's order for mobilization August
q is believed here to be due to some
extent to Turkeys military activity.
Officials here We're surprised IL hear
reports that the Austrian government
had ordered the Austrian cruiser
Kaiserin Elizabeth to join the German
feet at Tsing-Tau.
| The American government had trans
mitted for the Austrian foreign office
a message instructing the officers of
the cruiser to dismantle her and to
proceed to Shanghai.
This instruction followed negotia-
| tons at Toxic between the Austrian
ambassador and the Japanese foreign
Office, and when the agreement was
reached to dismantle the Kaiserin
Elizabeth 1t was said at Toxic that
danger of war between Japan and Aus
| tria had been removed.
Neither nation has advised the Wash
situation.