Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1918-06-20
American Headquarters At
tackled and Missionary Hos
pitaI Looted at Tabriz,
Turkey by SuItan'S Men,
DIPLOMATIC BREACH Is
ALREADY IN EXISTENCE
Relations Have Been Suspend
ed Since April 20, 1917;
Now Have Grounds for De-
CIaring Open Warfare.
sv sess~a ,ouHn., srse,.l lsAssO w,a.i

washington, June l9.-Attdck by
Turkish troops on the American con-
suiate at Tabri2, Persia, and the loot,
ing of an American missionary hos
pital in that city, reported to the state
department today. was believed in
some quarters here To presage the
long anticipated declaration OF the ex-
istenCe Of Il state tof war between tho
United states and the ottoman en-
pire.
Diplomatic relations between the
two governments have been suspend
ed since April 20, 1917, when Turkey
withdrew Abdul Hak Hussein Bey,
who had been acting as charge of the
Turkish embassy here since the COM
pulsory retirement of the regular am
bassador which followed his open
criticism of the United States gov
ernment Necessarily American AM
bassador Morgenthau was obliged to
leave Constantnople and since that
time the relations between the two
governments have been lust short OF
actual formal enmlty En-
Recently there have been vigorous
demands in congress for a declaration
OF a state OF war between the United
states and Turkey ana Bulgaria. but
President Wilson and the state de-
paftment have not regarded this step
as necessary or desirable, since there
has been no actual collision between
Anefican and Turkish and Bulgarian
troops.
Frovccntion for war.
TN the face OF the reports from
American Minister Caldwell at Tehe-
ran, OFFICIALS were inclined to believe
that the sacking of the American
hospital, Presbyterian institution.
over the protest OF the Spanish consul
IN charge as representative of Amer
lcan interests, furnished the necessary
pioFocaton for open hostilities be.
.Ween America and Turkey.
me adVices, however, were meagra
ana inc minister explained that he
was only transmitting reports of mat
ters not of his own knowledge
Americans and nurses who have
been stationed in the hospital were
belleVer to have left Tabriz before the
turkish troops arrived. Gordon Pad
DOCK the American consul In that
city reported to the department last
May ", mat he and all of the Amer
!eans ana the British were prepared
20 ietVe the city before the adyanc.
ing Turkish army consequently il was
~ tiiuh ICtuHlIX
were molested
Hold Persia TO Account.
some OFFICIALS pointed out today
mat since the attacks on the consul
late and hospital occurred In Persia.
tne united States first must hold tho
efslan government to account. MS II
Is responsible for the safety Of for
,, ,,'ghers and their properties within its
porders However because of the pe-
.uliaf ana uncertain relations between
turkey and Persia, the assertion by
a Sno ioriner OF the right of suzerainty
over Persia, and the recognized in.
: abtllty of the latter to resist the Turk
,Sh troops, there is little doubt here
lhat the Washington government will
hold that the responsibility for the
Iutt"ses tt mas passed to Turkey and
.lat ~ II the tlrst reports are substan-
tlated the existence of a state OF war
pe ween Turkey and the United States
must he declared.