File No. 763.72/1030 The Minister in Portugal (Birch) to the Secretary of State [Telegram] AMERICAN LEGATION, Lisbon, October 2, 1914, 12 noon. [Received 2.30 p. m.] It is affirmed, though unofficially, that Portugal, in accordance with English treaty obligation, will enter the war. It is my opinion that the above action will unquestionably be taken as soon as preparations shall have been completed. BIRCH File No. 704.4167/5 The British Ambassador (Spring Rice) to the Secretary of State No. 301] BRITISH EMBASSY, Washington, August 31, 1914. [Received October 3.] SIR: The information which reaches His Majesty's Government from Constantinople shows that events are taking place there which may lead to a coup d'état and involve Great Britain in war with Turkey. In case this contingency should unfortunately occur His Majesty's Government would wish that if possible British interests in that country should be entrusted to the diplomatic and consular representatives of the United States, and that British subjects and property may receive their protection during the period of hostilities. I have received Sir Edward Grey's instructions to ask if your Government would have the kindness to consent to this request, and I venture to express the hope that I may receive a favourable reply. I have [etc.] CECIL SPRING RICE The Secretary of State to the British Ambassador (Spring Rice) EXCELLENCY: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your note of August 31, 1914, in which you request that in the event of war being declared between Great Britain and Turkey American diplomatic and consular officers take charge of British interests in that country, and in reply to inform you that should such contingency arise the Department will be glad to take the action requested by_you. W. J. BRYAN I have [etc.] File No. 763.72/1043 The Ambassador in France (Herrick) to the Secretary of State1 [Telegram] AMERICAN EMBASSY, Paris, October 3, 1914. 163. The following is a translation of third-person note from Foreign Office dated Bordeaux, September 28, in reply to communication made in accordance with your circular September 23. The Ministry for Foreign Affairs has the honor to state that Germany having taken the initiative in hostilities against the French and Belgian possessions in the conventional basin of the Congo, the Government of the Republic has been obliged to beg the Spanish Government not to act on a request for good offices which at the suggestion of the Belgian Government it had already addressed the former in conformity with Article 11 of the Berlin Act. Under these circumstances it is no longer possible for the French Government to avail itself of that article with a view to obtaining during the present war the neutralization of the possessions of belligerent powers situated in the conventional basin of the Congo. HERRICK FURTHER APPEALS FOR PEACE (OCTOBER-NOVEMBER)—TURKEY ENTERS THE WAR File No. 763.72119/39 Memorandum by the Secretary of State DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, October 5, 1914. Spanish Ambassador called to say that when the time came for mediation his Government would be pleased to act with this Government in a tender of good offices. He seemed quite anxious that the President should understand that they were not only willing, but desirous of rendering any assistance in their power. I have told him the matter would be laid before the President, and that I was sure the President would be pleased to know of their disposition. I also asked him whether it would be possible for his Government to allow copper to be shipped to it directly, with the guarantee that it would not be reexported, or whether the Government would guarantee that copper shipped to private individuals in Spain would not be exported. 'Transmitted to the Ambassador in Germany, October 5. File No. 763.72/1105a The Secretary of State to American Diplomatic Officers in the Belligerent Countries [Circular telegram] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, October 7, 1914. In obedience to the proclamation of the President the people of the United States assembled at their places of worship on October 4 and joined in prayer for the restoration of peace in Europe. The attendance at these meetings was very large and there was everywhere a spirit of earnestness. Care was taken that nothing should be said of a non-neutral nature, the trend of the speeches being that God might so direct those in authority in the belligerent nations as to hasten the restoration of peace and that the American people might be wisely guided in the exercise of such influence as they might be able to exert. BRYAN File No. 763.72/1090 The Ambassador in Germany (Gerard) to the Secretary of State [Telegram] AMERICAN EMBASSY, Berlin, October 12, 1914, 4 p. m. [Received October 13, 4 p. m.] 478. On authority think hostilities between Turkey and Russia will commence soon and that ex-German ships Goeben and Breslau, rechristened Midilli and Javaz Sultan, with rest Turkish Fleet will attack Russian Fleet in Black Sea. GERARD File No. 763.72119/29 The Acting Secretary of State to American Diplomatic Officers in the Belligerent Countries [Circular telegram] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, October 13, 1914. Governing board of Pan American Union, consisting of the representatives of all nations of America, at special meeting held on October 7, 1914, on motion of Chilean Minister on behalf of his Government, resolved to convey by cable to the belligerent countries of Europe, through the Secretary of State of United States as chairman of board, following resolution, unanimously adopted by board: In view of the awful strife now devastating continental Europe and arousing universal sympathy, while profoundly disturbing the industrial and commercial interests of the world, the governing board of the Pan American Union hereby resolves to convey to the Governments of the belligerent countries an earnest expression of its hope for peace, as a tribute to the sentiments of fraternity which have inspired the meeting of the Pan-American conferences. Communicate foregoing to Government to which you are accredited. LANSING File No. 763.72119/27 The Minister in Venezuela (McGoodwin) to the Secretary of State No. 288] AMERICAN LEGATION, Caracas, September 29, 1914. [Received October 14.] SIR: I have the honor to report that Dr. Manuel Diaz Rodriguez, Minister for Foreign Affairs, discussed with me in his office this morning the attitude of Great Britain with reference to the war now raging in Europe. He criticized the alleged determination of the British Government to prolong the conflict, declaring that such action works a much greater hardship upon Venezuela and all other South American countries proportionately than upon the Allies themselves. Dr. Diaz Rodriguez explained the purpose of his conversation as due to an earnest desire that the United States make another offer of its good offices to the nations at war and he gave me the impression that he may approach the other countries of South America with a view to making a joint appeal to Germany, representing that reasonable concessions should be made to the Allies as partial compensation for retention of that country's commerce on this continent. It seems quite probable that there have been communications between the Venezuelan Foreign Office and most of the other South American Governments with some such purpose in view, but it is not yet clear whether an appeal will be made to all nations. I think the idea contemplates individual appeals-Peru to England, Venezuela to Germany, etc., the appellants addressing in each instance the European Government with which it has maintained the most extensive commercial relations or the most cordial, as the case may be. At all events, the antipathy to England for the reason given above is quite significant and it is most bitter in so far as this Government is concerned. I have [etc.] PRESTON MCGOODWIN File No. 867.00/692 The Ambassador in Turkey (Morgenthau) to the Secretary of State [Telegram] AMERICAN EMBASSY, Constantinople, October 19, 1914, 5 p. m. [Received October 20, 8 a. m.] The air is surcharged with all kinds of rumors, largely due to the present excited state of Government and diplomatic circles in Constantinople. As time progresses and the Germans have not been compelled to remove sailors and officers from the Goeben and Breslau, their actions are becoming more aggressive and correspondingly offensive to the English, French and Russians, whose patience may become exhausted. English and Russian Ambassadors have told me they are expecting trouble here, the English on account of warlike preparations in progress in vicinity of Egyptian boundaries and the Russian on account of the massing of Turkish troops at the Caucasian frontier and the maneuvering in the Black Sea of Turkish Fleet, augmented by the Goeben and Breslau and all officered by Germans. It seems that the Turkish war party desires to delay open conflict until result of general war can be more definitely forecast. Real danger consists in the war faction of the Union and Progress Party doing some foolish act that will precipitate a rupture, for instance, British Ambassador has remained at the Embassy for the past three days on account of warning received of plot to assassinate him. Time and place were [not stated]. British Ambassador abstained from attending memorial services for Roumanian King on Sunday. British Ambassador frankly told me that owing to British retention of Turkish dreadnoughts and the placing of British Fleet at the mouth of the [Dardanelles] and inflammatory articles against the English in Turkish press, he feared that he might receive similar treatment as Buxtons. When I spoke to the Grand Vizier to-day about the rumor as to the British Ambassador he assured me that nothing of the kind would happen. He also informed me that the Minister of the Interior would call on British Ambassador this afternoon and give him every assurance that his life was not in danger. AMERICAN AMBASSADOR File No. 875.00/3 The Ambassador in Italy (Page) to the Secretary of State [Telegram] AMERICAN EMBASSY, Rome, October 22, 1914, 3 p. m. [Received 8 p. m.] Reported, though not officially, that Italy has landed at Avlona for the purpose of maintaining order. Believed she has reached an agreement with other powers. NELSON PAGE File No. 763.72/1124 The Ambassador in Turkey (Morgenthau) to the Secretary of State [Telegram] AMERICAN EMBASSY, Constantinople, October 24, 1914, 8 p. m. [Received 12 p. m.] Yesterday French Ambassador sent nine cases and to-day British Ambassador and Russian Counselor requested permission to send |