Mr. Terrell to Mr. Olney.
Constantinople, November 21, 1895. (Received Dec. 7.)
Sir: I have the honor to inform you that the request expressed by Admiral Selfridge in his letter to me of the 16th instant, that I obtain permission for him to pass the Dardanelles with the Marblehead to confer here with me, has been declined by the Sultan.
He expresses the fear that other powers would seek to follow the example, and especially requests that Admiral Selfridge should not come to the Dardanelles.
[Page 1345]I have, in accordance with the request of the Admiral, wired him the result of my application to Smyrna and requested him, during this disturbed condition of Turkish affairs, to keep me informed from time to time of his place of anchorage in the eastern Mediterranean.
I am not advised of the nature of his instructions or the scope of his discretion, but express the hope that he has been instructed to inform the Turkish functionaries with whom he may have official intercourse that his naval force will not be used to protect revolutionists bearing American passports in entering Turkey from Cyprus.
The desire that the Admiral has received instructions to prevent American citizens from giving aid to revolutionists is inspired by my belief that all my efforts to secure missionaries would be in vain if the Turks should be led to believe that our naval force is aiding revolutionary schemes.
I presume that under article 4090, Revised Statutes of the United States, I could call upon the Admiral to enforce an order to prevent the entry of our naturalized citizens as armed revolutionists into Turkey if an emergency should arise requiring it.
I have, etc.,