THE TURKISH INDEMNITIES

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1514, 7 March 1901, Page 59

THE TURKISH INDEMNITIES

WHY THE OTTOMAN GOVERNMENT WILL NOT PAY. With reference to the Note addressed to the Porte recently by the British Embassy drawing attention to the nonsettlement of the claims for compensation for the losses sustained by British subjects during; the Armenian massacres of 1895-96, it should be added that the reminder was principally instigated in consequence of a Note from the Porte pointing out that a certain sum of money was still due by the British Post Office to the Turkish Postal Administration for the conveyance of mails. This sum of money, however, it will be remembered, was deducted at the time (some two years ago) by the Embassy from the balance due to tEe Turkish Postal Administration as compensation to the families of two Armenian employees of the British Post Office, who Avere killed during the massacres, one of them being done to death on the very threshold of the Post Office. In the British Note reference AA r as made to the above case, and the Porte was again reminded of the other outstanding claims l . The Embassy has secured the payment

by the Ottoman Government of £IOO as indemnity to the Dragoman of the British Vice-Consulate at Van who was wounded during the attack by Kurds on the Vice-Consul's party in August last, and incapacitated from duty during one month. It is reported that the French Embassy will shortly pay the balance -of the claims to French subjects for losses sustained during the Armenian disturbances, while as regards the American claim, it is generally understood that the amount (about 90,000 dollars) will be included in the first instalment payable to Messrs Cramp on account of the cruiser the Turkish Government is ordering of that firm. A statement telegraphed from Washington to the effect that the action of Great Britain in urging her claims - feir compensation was hampering and retarding the American negotiations, is misleading, and does not correspond with the actual position of affairs. As stated above, the British Note was drawn, up in reply to the Porte’s communication already mentioned, while the real difficulty in obtaining the settlement of the massacre indemnities is not, as alleged, the accumulation of European claims, but simply the Porte’s absolute and reiterated refusal to admit responsibility for the massacres. The Embassies and Legations interested have persistently refused to accept the Porte’s argument, and it is generally felt that Turkey wilt have to pay these claims by some means or other.