Evening star., 1918-06-20
Mr.. Lansing Before Committee.

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relations committee today in regard
to another matter, Secretary Lansing
of the State Department discussed the
Tabriz incident, and he and members
of the committee were said to agree
consulate was made by an organized
Turkish military force, and not by a
mob, it would present an overt act
sufficient to warrant a declaration of
war.
Diplomatic relations between the
suspended since April 20. 1917. On
that date Turkey withdrew Abdul Hak
Hussein Bey, who had acted as
charge Of the Turkish embassy here
since the compulsory retirement of
the Turkish ambassador, following his
criticism Of the United States gov
ernment.
Ambassador Morgenthau was obliged
to leave Constantinople, and since
that time relations between the two
governments have fallen just short
Of formal enmity, Il, ,s.ssss s.1if s.;s ID i
Demands for War.
Recently there have BEEN Vigorous
demands in Congress for a declara-
ton of war between the United States
and Turkey and Bulgaria, but Presi-
dent Wilson and the State Department
have not regarded this step as neces-
sary or desirable, since there has been
no actual collision between American
and Turkish and Bulgarian troops.
On the face Of the reports from
American Minister Caldwell. at Te-
heran, oficials were inclined to be-
lieve that the sacking of the Ameri-
can hospital. a Presbyterian institu-
ton, over the. protest Of the Spanish
consul, in charge as representative Of
American interests, furnished the
necessary provocation for open hos
tilities between America and Turkey.
The advices. however, were meager
and the minister explained that he
was only transmitting reports Of mat
ters not of his own knowledge. In
view of this it was realized that later
reports might show that the offenses
were not as grave as now repre-
American doctors and nurses who
have been stationed in the hospital
were believed to have left Tabriz be-
fore the Turkish troops arrived. Cor
don Paddock. the American consul in
last May 2s that he and all Of the
Americans and the British were pre-
pared to leave the city before the ad-
vancing Turkish army, consequently
1t was not believed that Americans
actually were molested.
Responsibility Of Turkey.
Some officials pointed out today that
since the attacks on the consulate and
hospital occurred in Persia, the United
States first must hold the Persian
government to account, as 1t is re-
sponsible for the safety Of foreigners
and their properties within It's bor-
ders. However. because Of the pecu-
liar and uncertain relations between
Turkey and Persia, the assertion Of
the former OF the right Of suzerainty
over Persia, and the we'll recognized
inability Of the latter to resist the
Turkish troops, there Is little doubt
here that the Washington govern
ment will hold that the responsibility
for the outrages has passed to Tur-
key, and that IL the first reports are
substantiated the existence Of q state
Of war between Turkey and the
United States must be declared.
Consul Paddock and the other Amer
leans at Tabriz were believed to be
making their way overland. either to
Teheran, some 400 miles from Tabriz
or to Hamedan, where they would
strike the great caravan route leading
to Bagdad, from which city a British
force has been sent out toward Tab
ritz. Mr.. Paddock is said to be much
experienced in oriental countries and
is regarded as we'll able to take care
Of himself and his companions,