New-York tribune., 1918-06-21
Washington Begins
An Investigation of
Outrages by Turks
Swedish and Spanish EN-
bassies Asked to Report
on Consulate Attack

WASHINGTON, June oO.--The State
Department announced to-day that II
had requested both the Spanish and
the Swedish governments to ascertain
the correctness of the report trans
mitted by the American Legation at
Teheran that Turkish troops had sacked
the American missionary hospital at
Tabriz, Persia, and taken possession
of the United States consulate in that
city
The Swedish Minister at Constanti-
nople represents the American govern
mcnt in Turkey, and will make in
quiries of the Porte. The Spanish flag
was flying over the American hospital
at Tabriz, and for that reason, this
government, assuming that the Amer
lean consul at Tabriz had left American
interests there in the hands Of the
Spanish consul, the Spanish govern
ment also was asked TO verify the
report.
BY instituting inquiries through the
Spanish as we'll as the Swedish gov
ernment, it will be possible, diplomats
pointed out, to establish the facts
as it is not expected that the Swedish
Minister'S reply to the American in.
quiry will contain more than the ex.
planation of the Turkish government
which otherwise might have made q
fiat denial of the reported incidents.
Change in Policy Likely
State Department officials declined
to-day to make public the reasons wh,
the United States has not recognized
a state of war with Turkey and Bull
garia, but asserted that the reason.
were sufficient. Whether these reason,
will obtain in the face of p confirma
tion of the reported insults to tn,
American government and the lootin;
of an American hospital on neutra
soil is not known. 1t is believed here
however, that the pas. rc!:cv of thi
government toward Turkey, at least
and probably Bulgaria also, is fas
approaching an end.
1t was believed to-day that if Amer
lea declares war against TurkeN th
Philippines division, which is now be
ing formed, will be dispatched to Meso
potamia. Reports received her
through military channels indicate tha
Persia is likely to become a base fo
Turkish operations against the British
army in Mesopotamia.
Turkey, it was stated, is attemptin,
to stir up the Persian people to hos
tility against the British. and to max
them attack the British flank. Othe
reports from Persia state that, Will
| the government is apparently pro-Ally
the Persian masses are hostile TO bot1
Britain and Russia, and sympathiz
with the Turks.
Resolution Asks War
A joint resolution declaring a stat
of war with Bulgaria and Turkey wa
introduced in the House to-day by Rep
resentative Kelly of Pennsylvania, an,
referred to the Foreign Affairs Com
mittee. 1t declares that the militar,
forces of the two governments name,
have committed acts of war agains
the government and the people Of IN
United States.
Appearing before the Senate For
elgn Relations Committee to-day, i,
regard to another matter, Secretar,
Lansing discussed the Tabriz incident
and he and members of the committee
were said to agree that if the attacl
on the American consulate were mad
by an organized Turkish military fore
and not by mob it would present a,
overt act sufficient to warrant declsr
alton Of war.