The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-04-11
President and Cabinet Have
Found No Way to Get Them
to Neutral Territory
COMMUNICATION WITH
ELKUS IS BROKEN
No Word From y. S. Ambas-
sador to Turkey Has Been
Received. for Four Days.
No Route Open.

Washington. April 1o.-The fate OF
Americans in Turkey and Bulgaria to-
night caused President Wilson and his
ADVISERS grave concern, RS a clash be-
tween those two nations. and the
United States became apparently un-
avoidable. At war with Germany. all
relations with Austria broken. the state
department saw little hope of avoid
Ing complete rupture with all the
Teutonic allies. The apparent impos-
sibillty of getting Ambassador Elkus
and other Americans out of Turkey In
the event OF break with the sublime
porte was laid before President Wilson
and his advisers at the second war
meeting OF the cabinet today. Tho
state department at once took up the
problem of making some arrangement
20 assure the safety OF Americans in
Turkey should the apparently inevi-
table break come. Their considera-
ton of various plans proved anything
but encouraging.
The state department tonight had
been without advices from Ambassa
dor EIkus for four days. The break
with Austria cut OF the usual line OF
communication, via Vienna, on Satur-
day. The department was plainly con-
cerned over what may be happening
in Turkey.
War Zone Rars Way.
Should Ambassador Eikus be given
his passports. II has been supposed that
the gunboat Scorpion. American station
ship at Constantinople. would he utti-
ICED TO get him to neutral soil. But
the Dardaneiies have been closed and
mined. and the German war zone bars
the way from the Turkish capital to
safe waters
Further, the Turkish government
might take advantage Of the precedent
se, when the United States seized the
Austrian war-bound ships and taxa
trai territory 10 which the American
en,hassy staff IN Cons,antsnopls could
make its way over land
With the United States at war with
Germany. II would be automatically
i'm pc ssihle for this country to ask Ger
many for O safe conduct for the en-
voy through the German war zone or
to ask Turkey to secure such safe
conduct The navy department was
tonight about decided that the Scor-
pion fs doomed IL Turkey breaks with
the United States The gunooat has
been In Turkish waters for the past
twelve wears. She is commanded by
Commander James y. Morton. and has
WIN Mske Break CertaiH.
The dominance of German influence
in both Bulgaria and Turkey was look
ed upon tonight as making break
with those two nations Inevitable
sooner or later. The fact that Austria
was unable TO withstand the German
pressure and was forced to break with
the United states despite the clearly
friendly feelings on both sides con-
WINGED the presidents diplomatic ad-
visers that German influence would ac-
compiish It's aim in the other Teutonfe
allied capitals.
Barren Erich Z~ie<liaels,- charge of the
Austrian embassy. called at the state
department today and presented his
formal farewells to Secretary Lansing.
The department announced that the
passports for Ambassador-D Designate
Tarnowski. Baron Zwiedinek and the
remainder of his party had been de-
iivered. and that the entente powers
had been asked to grant safe conduct
for the entire party. The party. num-
bering about eighty. will go to Europe
via Halifax. as in the case OF German
Ambassador Won Bernstorff. The stale
department win take extreme precau-