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Show I America's Interest in Constantinople I " SO- -Gg&- o,u U' NCI.il SAM. it appears, lias sonie-hinu sonie-hinu at stalce in the control of j v ...nstantinople. The United States , povernnient, it is explained am horita-j horita-j tively in Washington, has eertain definite defi-nite interests in Asia Minor and in the final settlement of the controversy ovef the Dardanelles. I Aside from the duty of enforcing the t rights of the citizens of the United i Stales under the so-called Capitulations Capitula-tions treaty negotiated with Turkey ninny years atfo, this iioverunient is bound to protect the lives and property of Americans in Asia Minor, and fully Intends to do so. All rights under the so-called Capitulations Capit-ulations treaties were declared null and void by the sultan of Turkey at the outbreak of the World war. but :bis government protested at the time .jnd has never admitted the cancellation. cancella-tion. Cermany and Austria accepted this nullification, but the other powers acted in the same manner as the United Unit-ed States. The allied nations have maintained naval and military forces in Turkey not only to enforce their :a pit ula tory rights and to protect the lives ami properties of their citizens, but also under the provisions of the armistice concluded between them and Turkey at the close of hostilities in the war. Under this armistice, the allies retained re-tained the right to keep the Dardanelles Darda-nelles open by force if necessary. AVhile it can he definitely stated that this government is not Koin' to par- licipate in any political or military activity in Asia .Minor, it cannot be i expressed too strongly, o.'Vu-iuls have ! declared, that the United Slates is definitely defi-nitely interested in the control of the Dardanelles. The vast import:. nee of these straits, I coupled with the .in-owing commercial ! importance of the United States and the consequent expansion of its mer-i mer-i chant marine, makes it imperative that ; the best interests of this government should not be endangered j auy set tlemeut that is made. |