Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-06-26
ULT|MATUM SENT
TO TURKS BY j. S.
Immediate and Satisfactory Ex-
planation Demanded of
Tabriz Incident.
NO ANSWER YET RECEIVED
Ottoman. Government Has Not
Paid Slightest Attention to
Previous Demands.
NO ANSWER YET RECEIVED

WASHINGTON. June 25-A virtual
| uitimatum was to-day sent by the
| United States government to Turkey
demanding an immediate and salts
factory explanation of the Tabriz Incl
dent.
There is strong reason TO believe
that failure on the part of Turkey
TO give favorable response Will be fol-
lowed by declaration of war on the
part Of this nation.
The dcmand--thc third sent to the
authorities in Constantnoplc since the
incident occurred. was forwarded by
Secretary Of State Lansing through the
swedish government Sweden was
Ocarer Of one of the two previous com
inunications, and Spain of the other.
TO neither of these previous messages
has the Ottoman government paid the
slightest attention.
This message" declared an official
Of the department. referring 10 to-day's
demand, means business"
The offense for which an explana- :
,ion is demanded is the action Of the
Turks at Tabriz in sacking the United
States consulate there and looting the
United States hospital. The United
States demands 10 know whether The
Turkish government avows responsi-
bility fo- the outrage. or whether it
vas the outcome of irresponsible mob
bing. following The capture of Tabr!z
by the Turks.
OFFICIALS INPATIENT
At TURKISH TTITUDE
Officials tonight made no effort TO
conceal their impa thence over the fail
ure Of the Constantinople Foreign Of
fee 10 pay attention to the inquiries
Of this government, and 1t is admitted
that the relations between the two gov
crnments have never been more strained
than they arc at the present moment.
Considerable speculation is current
concerning the possible military and no-
litical effects OF declaration of war
against Turkey. For months past &
strongest kind OF pressure has been
brought to bear on President Wilson.
both by the allied governments and
by members OF Congress, In behalf o:
such action. The pressure is directed
20 include Bulgaria in the war dccla-
ration.
With Austria seemingly on the verge
OF collapse, following her latest mil
itary debacie on the Italian front. and
with Bulgaria and Turkey quarrr
between themselves and with Germany
over the torn carcass OF Roumania il
may be that the administration still
will cling 10 the belief that better re-
suits can be obtained by Withholding
the war declaration. This view is dis
counted now, however, even in State
Department quarters, where it is ad :
mitted that to-day's message TO Tur-
key, II unfavo:ably responded 10, can
not help but bring matters to a crisis.
MAY SEND JUGO-SLAV
LEGION TO BALKAN FRONT
With the passage by the Senate +
day OF the amendment TO the army bill
providing for the creation of the Jugo-
in the possibility that troops OF this
legion. when formed. nigh, be used to
advantage on the Balkan front in the
event that the United States does un-
sheath the sword against Turkey
1t is in the Balkans that the heart
Of the JuSo-Slav movement is located.
and with a United States JUG
legion entering tho lists in that war
theater. many believe new life would
be given the revolutionary spirit among
the small nationalities in the Balkans,
subject to the central powers
Officials in the State Department de-
clincd to state what time limit. if any
has been placed upon the demand for
an explanation from Turkey. but il
was plainly evident that the govern
ment is not disposed TO wait more than
few days.