U.S. Warning To Turkey Disturbs Allied Capitals
American Delegation Explains It Spoke Only For Itself.
Demanded End Of Armenian Massacres
American Commission Reports Syrians Grateful Uncle Sam.
Paris, Aug. 27.- An informal warning to Turkey that massacres of Armenians must cease, given recently by Rear Admiral Mark L. Bristol, commander of the United States naval forces in Turkey, caused something of a flurry in French official quarters and in the supreme council of the peace conference, it developed today. In the council there was reported to have occurred sharp criticism of American interference in Turkey through missions and otherwise despite the fact that the United States had shown no disposition to accept the mandate for the administration of any Turkish territory.
The impression prevailed that in case the United States had acted alone in a formal communication to the Turkish government.
The American delegation explained, however, that the warning was delivered informally by Admiral Bristol several days ago that no formal note was sent, but merely an informal statement the United States alone not attempting to speak for the peace conference.
On receiving the warning Turkey, it appears, immediately complained to Great Britain and France, saying she was threatened. The explanation of the American delegation to the peace conference that the warning was informal, however, apparently removed the objections to the American nation based upon the idea that the United States was speaking for the conference.
American Commission Greeted.
Charles R. Crane and Dr. Henry Churchill King, who went to Asia Minor in June as an American mission to investigate conditions in the Near East, returned to Paris today. They will report tomorrow to the American delegation on the Syrian situation and the next day on the conditions in the remainder of Asia Minor.
Mr. Crane and Dr. King visited thirty-nine cities of Asiatic Turkey and conferred with committees representing more than 1,200 villages. It was amazing, they say, to find how generally President Wilson’s “fourteen points” were known throughout the Near East and how strong was the nationalistic feeling, even among the Arabs, who rode for days in order to meet the commission, whose presence was so widely heralded that the Americans never arrived anywhere without being greeted by a large delegation eager to communicate its aspirations to the United States.
Syrians Grateful to U.S.
Unlike Russians, who returned from New York’s East Side to Russia and bitterly denounced America, Mr. Crane says, the Syrians who have returned from America have only praise for the United States and American ideals and ideas.
At Beirut, Syrians of all classes pointed to red-tiled houses and told the mission that these were built by Syrians who had prospered in America. They praised the American schools, declaring that these schools had never attempted to discourage national spirit.
Asia Minor, according to Mr. Crane, is looking to America so hopefully that it would be a pity to disappoint the people of that territory by refusing to assist in bringing about order and peace there.
Americans Protest Depredations
New York, Aug. 27.- A cable message protesting against the depredations by Turks throughout Armenia in violation of the armistice signed last November and calling upon the allied powers to enforce the agreement, was sent today to the president of the peace conference at Paris by the executive committee of the American committee for the independence of Armenia.
The message which asserts that the Turks have concentrated troops along the boundaries of Armenia is signed by James W. Gerard, Charles E. Hughes, Elihu Root, Henry Cabot Lodge, John Sharp Williams, Governor Smith of New York, Frederick Courtland Penfield and Cleveland H. Dodge.