File No. 763.72114/69 The Ambassador in Germany (Gerard) to the Secretary of State [Telegram] AMERICAN EMBASSY, Berlin, November 9, 1914. [Received November 10, 12 noon.] 785. As negotiations regarding English and German prisoners involving questions of exchange, treatment, etc., have been seriously complicated by delays in transmission of telegrams, I would respectfully inquire whether I may not communicate such telegrams directly to London with request to repeat them to Department, instead of telegraphing Department for repetition to London. I would, however, submit doubtful questions to Department first. GERARD The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Germany (Gerard) [Telegram] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, November 12, 1914. 624. Your 785. Department desires you to continue to act under circular instructions October 5. File No. 125.0067/17 BRYAN The Ambassador in Turkey (Morgenthau) to the Secretary of State [Telegram] AMERICAN EMBASSY, Constantinople, November 12, 1914, 3 p. m.1 [Received November 17, 8 a. m.] 21. Turkish authorities insist on searching all consulates and everything therein except archives. They desire our consular representatives to be present. I shall instruct consular representatives not to attend or be represented and shall inform authorities that they search at their own responsibility, and if they search I shall protest unless I receive contrary orders before Monday, until which day they promised to delay search. AMERICAN AMBASSADOR 1 According to correction, dated November 18, 1914, this date should have been November 11, 7 p. m. File No. 763.72/1226 The Ambassador in Turkey (Morgenthau) to the Secretary of State [Telegram] AMERICAN EMBASSY, Constantinople, November 12, 1914. [Received November 17, 8 a. m.] 18. Turkish authorities are absolutely wild because they cannot find a wireless apparatus that is being used clandestinely to give information to Russia whenever any of Turkish war vessels enter Black Sea. Yesterday they, without even notifying me, entered the British and French Embassies and Consulates and Servian Legation, ostensibly to search for wireless apparatus. I immediately strongly protested orally to Minister of the Interior who apologized [for the] matter and stated the police had acted under orders from military authorities without his knowledge. He immediately sent for chief of police and made him apologize in his presence. I then protested to Minister of War who admitted giving order to find wireless but disclaimed all blame for entering diplomatic premises as he had not given any detailed directions, putting all blame on police. He said that he would call at Embassy to formally apologize. Police authorities sealed Russian Embassy. To avoid their attempting similar action with those in my charge I sealed them myself for one week only, because at the end thereof they should either have discovered the offender or be convinced that the embassies and consulates have not been used as stations. Unfortunately they found some firearms in British Consulate and only yesterday I was informed, when police wanted a locked room opened, that it contained 80 rifles, 90 pistols, 9,000 rounds of ammunition in [British Embassy]. I have informed chief of police of above fact without [stating quantity] and he has agreed that I should adjust matter with Minister of War. I fear that this [quantity] may create very bad impression. Perhaps I had better keep Embassy sealed [indefinitely. Kindly advise me.] Police seized two horses and three carriages from the British Embassy and six horses from the French Embassy. I have entered most emphatic protest against this. Italian Ambassador and I have prepared written protests similar in principle which we shall deliver to Grand Vizier to-day. AMERICAN AMBASSADOR File No. 125.0067/17 The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Turkey (Morgenthau) [Telegram] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, November 17, 1914, 6 p. m. 37. Your 21, November 12, 3 p. m., received to-day. You may strongly protest against the Turkish authorities searching all consulates in charge of American representatives and everything therein except archives. You may, if not too late, instruct American consular representatives to be present unofficially in order that they may later give testimony as to the acts of the Turkish authorities. BRYAN File No. 763.72/1226 The Acting Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Turkey (Morgenthau) [Telegram] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, November 21, 1914. Your 18. Department approves your action. Please keep Department fully informed as to situation. File No. 704.4167/18 LANSING The Ambassador in Turkey (Morgenthau) to the Secretary of State [Telegram] AMERICAN EMBASSY, Constantinople, December 3, 1914. [Received December 4, 10.30 p. m.] 108. American Consul Aleppo telegraphs that local officials, stating that they acted upon instructions from Constantinople, notwithstanding Consul's refusal, broke American consular seal on door of room containing archives of British and French Consulates and took them away. As day after day Ottoman officials are becoming bolder, do you approve that I demand immediate return of archives, punishment of guilty officials, apologies from the Sublime Porte and assurances that such violations will not be repeated? AMERICAN AMBASSADOR The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Turkey (Morgenthau) [Telegram] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, December 5, 1914, 6 p. m. 110. Your 108, 3d. You should request immediate return of archives and explanation from the Sublime Porte and assurances that such violations of the seal of the United States will not be repeated. In presenting this urgent request use discretion, remembering that we use only moral persuasion in our efforts to give protection to other nationals and are not under obligation to use force. Our ability to serve other nations depends upon our maintenance of cordial relations with the Ottoman Government. BRYAN File No. 763.72/1308 The Ambassador in Turkey (Morgenthau) to the Secretary of State 'onsta [Telegram] AMERICAN EMBASSY, Constantinople, December 13, 1914, 11 p. m. 155. Italian Embassy informed that Ottoman authorities at Hodeida after arresting French Consul attempted November 11 to arrest British Vice Consul who took refuge in Italian Consulate. Thereupon Ottoman military forces [?] surrounded Italian Consulate, police forced Consulate, discharged revolvers, wounded kavass, refused Italian Consul time to obtain instructions from his Government. British Vice Consul surrendered. The Governor General Hodeida informed Italian Consul that he would no longer be recognized as such, accused him of firing at Ottoman troops, which the Consul emphatically denies. Italian Consul prevented from leaving his house and deprived of all communication until December 3 when Italian war vessel Guiliana arrived, prevented his trial fixed for that day and took him on board. Instructed by its Government Italian Embassy upon extraterritoriality of the Consulate General demanded public reparation in such shape as it will determine, and that Italian Consul return to his post unmolested; that wounded kavass receive indemnity; that British Vice Consul be released and permitted to go to Aden; that postal and telegraphic communications between Consul and Italian Government be assured. Italian Ambassador requests my cooperating in securing release of British Vice Consul. AMERICAN AMBASSADOR The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Turkey (Morgenthau) [Telegram] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, December 16, 1914. Your 155, 13th, 11 p. m. Department approves your cooperation with Italian Ambassador for release of British Vice Consul Hodeida. File No. 704.6291/6 BRYAN The Secretary of State to the Minister in Persia (Caldwell) [Telegram] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, December 19, 1914. Department's November 5.1 German Ambassador here states you have assumed protection Germans in Persia owing to urgency. Department approves action and at request of Ambassador desires you also when necessary take charge German interests in parts of Persia occupied by Russian forces. 'Ante, p. 745. BRYAN File No. 702.4167/15 The Ambassador in Turkey (Morgenthau) to the Secretary of State [Telegram] AMERICAN EMBASSY, Constantinople, December 15, 1914, 9 p. m. [Received December 21, 4.35 p. m.] My 155. Italian Ambassador and I called together at the Sublime Porte to-day; thereupon Italian Ambassador was handed telegram, as now there is no telegraphic communication with Hodeida, to Governor of Hodeida who was therein directed to immediately arrange return of English Vice Consul from the interior. Italian Ambassador had also received telegram directing Governor Hodeida to permit Italian Consul to reinstate him at Hodeida Consulate. Apparently Sublime Porte will give satisfaction to Italy. Your 1351 communicated to Grand Vizier who thereafter informed me that French consuls are on their way to Constantinople and will be permitted to leave for France. Grand Vizier expects after their departure Prince Omar will be released. AMERICAN AMBASSADOR ACTIVITIES OF THE UNITED STATES IN REGARD TO PRISONERS OF WAR AND INTERNED CIVILIANS [This topic really constitutes one aspect of the representation of belligerent governments in enemy countries (see above headnote on that subject 2), and is not fully covered because the correspondence consists mainly of communications from one belligerent government to another, transmitted by the American Government without comment or other action on its part.] File No. 763.72114/3 The Chargé d'Affaires in Russia (Wilson) to the Secretary of State [Telegram] AMERICAN EMBASSY, Petrograd, September 10, 1914, 5 p. m. [Received September 11, 7.15 p. m.] 11. Condition of Austrians and Germans arrested as prisoners of war and sent to interior very bad. According to advices from all sources, Government has done almost nothing to house and feed them properly, resulting in suffering and sickness. If something is not done soon before cold weather, conditions will become fearful. Am protesting daily at Foreign Office concerning this matter; improvement and investigation promised but conditions unchanged. As Russia desires greatly to secure favorable opinion of America, word to Russian Ambassador this matter might have good effect. WILSON |