The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-06-26
j. 5. ASKS TURKEY
FOR EXPLANATION
OF TABR|z AFFAIR
Virtual Ultimatum Sent
By Secretary of State
Lansing.
Is THIRD DEMAND
Failure on Part Of Otto
man Empire to Reply
May Result in War
on turks.
Is THIRD DEMAND

Washington. June Z5.---A virtua'
United States government. to Turkey
demanding an immediate and salts
factory explanation or the Tabriz in
cident
There is strong reason TO believe
that a failure on the part Of Turkey
to give favorable response will be fol-
lowed by a declaration OF war on the
part Of this nation.
The denand--the third sent 10 the
authorities in ConstantinopIe sincs
the incident occurred. was forwarded
by Secretary of Stale Lansing through
the Swedish government. sweden was
bearer Of one of the two previous
com munications and Spain of the
other To neither Of these previous
messages has the Ottoman govern
ment paid the slightest attention.
This message" declared an official
OF the department. referring 10 to
days demand. means business"
The offense for which an explana-
ton is demanded In the action of the
Turks at TGeriz in sacking the United
States consulate there and looting the
United States hospital The United
States demands to know whether the
Turkish government avows response
bility for the outrage. or whether II
was the outcome of irresponsible
mohzing. following the capture OF
Tahriz by the Turks.
Officials tonight made no effort &c
conceal their impotence over the fail
ure of the Constsntinople foreign Of
fee to pay attention to the inquiries
OF this government. and II is admitted
that the relations between the two
governments have never been more
strained than they are at the present
moment
Considerable speculation is curren,
concerning the possible military and
political effects OF a declaration OF war
against Turkey. For months past the
| strongest kind of pressure has beer
brought to bear on President Wilson
both by the allied governments and
by members OF congress, in behalf OF
4 such action, The pressure is directed
4 10 include Bulgaria in the war deciar-
alton.
With Austria seemingly on the verge
!. Of collapse, following her latest mil
I itary 6ebacle on the Italian front. and
with Bulgaria and Turkey auarrelins
between themselves and with Ger
mania. it may be that the admins
tration still will cling to the belief
that better results can be obtained by
withholding the war declaration. This
view liz discounted now however, even
In state department quarters, where
1t is admitted that today's message
Y to Turkey. If unfavorable responded
Y TO. cannot help but bring matters &c
q crisis.
With the passage by the senate to-
day of the amendment to the army
bill providing for the creation of the
Jugo- Slav foreign legional. interest Is
revived in the possibility that troops
OF this legion, when formed. might
be used to advantage on the Balkan
front in the event that the United
States does unsheath the sword
against Turkey.
Il is in the Balkans that the heart
or the Jugo-Slav moveme emit is located
Ana with a United States Jugo-SlaS
legion entering the lists In that wal
theater. many believe new life would
be given the revolutionary spirit
among the small nationalities in the
Balkans. subject to the central pow
er1
Officials in the state department de.
clined to state what time limit, IL any
has been placed upon the demand fol
\ m explanation from Turkey. but II
was plainly evident that the govern
ment is not disposed to wait more
than few days