People's Pilot, Volume 5, Number 40, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 April 1896 — FEELING AT WASHINGTON. [ARTICLE]

FEELING AT WASHINGTON.

Officials of the State Department Do Not Expect Serious Trouble. Washington, April 8. —The officials at the state department are fully aware of the condition of the missionaries in Turkey and of the developments in the case of Missionary Knapp, who is reported by cable to be in confinement at Diarbekir, but they refuse to discuss the matter in any phase. However, it is apparent that they do not feel under any great degree of apprehension as to serious trouble in Turkey. It is quite certain that no orders have gone forward to Admiral Selfridge to gather his fleet in the Gulf of Iskanderun to make any sort of demonstration, and, although he has a large measure of discretion and authority in the movements of his ship, it is unlikely he would go so far as to make a naval demonstration without the sanction and direction of the navy department. So far as the case of Missionary Knapp is concerned it presents no feature of novelty, and the only point involved on its face is the old question of extra-territorial jurisdiction by our legation in Turkey. The state department has insisted upon the exercise of this right steadfastly. The more serious aspect of the matter is brought to light by the renewal of the report that emanated from Constantinople some weeks ago, to the effect that there is to be a general expulsion of all foreign missionaries from Turkish Armenia, and notwithstanding the reticence shown at the state department in reference to this subject it is believed there is some foundation for the report.