Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1918-06-20
WAR ON TURKEY
MAY SOON COME
Attack. on American Consulate
and Looting of Hospital
at Tabriz Reported
MAY LEAD TO DECLARATION
Diplomatic Relations With Of
toman Empire Are AL
ready Suspended
ATTENDANTS BELIEVED SAFE
Doctors and Nurses Thought
to Have Left City Before
Arrival of Troops
ATTENDANTS BELIEVED SAFE

WASHINGTON, June 19.--An at
lack by Turkish troops on the
American consulate at Tabriz, Per-
Bia, and the looting of an American
missionary hospital in that city re-
ported 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 sus-
pended since April 20, 1917, and
since that time the relations be4
tween the two experiments have
been just short 6f actual formal
Senmity.
I'd President Wilson and the state
department have not regarded
eclaration of a state OF war be-
ytJeen the United States and Turkey
Ind Bulgaria as necessary or desir-
Hble since there has been no actual
Vcollision between American and
Turkish and Bulgarian troops.
May Be Provocation.
Officials were inclined to believe
the sacking of the American hos
pital, Prest yterian institution, over
the protest OF the Spanish consul in
charge, as representative of Amerl-
can interests, furnished the neces-
Bary provocation for open hostillties
between America and Turkey.
1t whs realized reports might
show the offences were not as grave
As represented.
American doctors and nurses who
have been stationed in the hospital
were believed to have left Tabriz be-
fore the Turkish troops arrived.
Gordon Paddock, the American con-
sui in that city, reported to the de-
partment May 20 last, that he and
all the Americans and British were
prepared to leave the city before the
advancing Turkish army.
Probably no action will be taken
nntil further facts are ascertained.
Mhy Hold Persia to Blame.
Some, officials pointed out today
that since the attacks on the con-
sulate and hospital occurred In Per-
sia. the United States first must
hold the Persian government to ac-
count, and 1t is responsible for the
critics within It's borders. However,
because of the peculiar and uncer-
tain relations between Turkey and
Persia the assertion by the former
of the right of suzerainty over Per-
STA, and the WELL recognized inability
Of the latter to resist the Turkish
troops, there is little doubt here that
fhe Washington government will
hold that the responsibility for the
outrages has passed to Turkey, and
If the first reports are substantiated
the existence of state Of war be-
tween Turkey and the United States
must be declared.
Consul Paddock and the other
Americans at Tabriz were believed to
be making their way overland either
to Teheran,o some four hundred
miles from Tabriz, or to Hamedan,
where they would strike the great
caravan route leading to Bagdad,
from which city a British force has
been sent out toward Tabriz. Mr..
Paddock is said to be much expert
enced in the oriental countries and
IS regarded as well able to take care
of himself and his companions.