New-York tribune., 1918-06-20
American Consulate at Ia
briz Seized and Hos
pital Sacked
Relations Severed
More Than a Year
Washington to Await Off,
cial Reports Before TAX
ing Definite Step

WASHINGTON, June 19.-An attack
by Turkish troops on the American
Consulate at Tabriz, Persia, and the
looting of an American missionary hos
pital in that city, reported to the State
Department to-day, was believed in
some quarters here to presage the long
anticipated declaration of the existence
of state of war between the United
States and the Ottoman Empire,
Diplomatic relations between the two
governments have been suspended since
April 20, 1917, when Turkey withdrew
Abdul Hak Hassein Bey, who had been
acting as charge Of the Turkish En-
bassy here since the compulsory retire.
ment of the regular ambassador, which
followed his open criticism of the
United States government. Necessa-
rily, American Ambassador Morgenthau
was obliged to leave Constantinople,
and since that time the relations be-
tween the two governments have been
just short Of actual formal enmity.
OcWdNuS IN congress
Recently there have been vigorous
demands in Congress for declaration
of state of war between the United
States and Turkey and Bulgaria, but
President Wilson and the State De-
partment have not regarded this step
as necessary 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, officials were inclined to believe
the sack!ng of the American hospital,
a Presbyterian institution, over the
protest of the Spanish Consul, in
charge as representative of American
interests, furnished the necessary pro-
vocation for open hostilities between
America and Turkey.
The advices, however, were meagre,
and the minister explained that he was
only transmitting reports of matters
not of his own knowledge. In view
of this. it was realized that later re-
were not as grave as now represented.
The derartment is trying to get fur
ther information regarding the out
RACES. ard probably no action will be
taken until these efforts are exhausted
1t is realized that it will be difficult
to obtain additional reports because of
the remoteness of the scene and bad
wire communications.
Persia To Be Asked
Some officials pointed out to-day that
since the attacks on the consulate and
hospital occurred in Persia, the United
States first must ho'd the Persian gov
ernment to account, as it is respons-
ibie for the safety of foreigners and
their properties within it's borders.
However, because of the peculiar and
uncertain relations between Turkey and
Persia, and assertion by the former of
the right of sovereignty over Persia,
and the we'll recognized inability of
the latter to resist the Turkish troops,
there is little doubt here that the
Washington government will hold that
the responsibility for the outrages has
passed to Turkey, and that if the first
reports are substantiated. the exist
ence of state of war between Turkey
and the United States must be de-
clared
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 lea ling
to Baedad from which city British
force has been sent out toward Tabriz.
Mr.. Paddock is said to be m ch expert
enced in Orien al countries and is re-
garded as well abe to take care Of
himself and his COMPANIONS