File No. 367.11/15A.
The Acting Secretary of State to the American Ambassador to France .
Washington , November 8, 1912 .
Hand to Minister for Foreign Affairs a letter substantially as follows:
“The Government of the United States, concerned over the possibility of chaotic conditions perhaps involving violence to foreigners and the safety of Americans in Turkey where large numbers of them are engaged in educational and missionary work, will despatch as soon as possible two naval vessels to the Mediterranean to proceed to Beirut and Smyrna, subject to change of orders by the American Embassy at Constantinople, The Government of the United States hopes that it will thus be able to share to some extent in any needed relief of foreigners in case of dangerous developments. My Government instructs me meanwhile to inquire whether it will be agreeable to your excellency’s Government to issue to its Embassy at Constantinople and to the commanders of any ships that it may have in Turkish waters, such instructions as will insure protection to American citizens in Turkey in accordance with the dispositions deemed necessary by the Embassies at Constantinople, for the execution of which my Government must rely upon the Powers most intimately concerned with the political situation in the Near East.
The above instruction is sent also to London, Vienna, Rome, Berlin, and St. Petersburg, and is quoted to the Ambassador at Constantinople, who is instructed to confer with his colleagues with a view to securing in connection with the measures taken by the other Powers the fullest protection possible for Americans in the Ottoman Empire; and to telegraph to American consular officers in the Ottoman Empire, if the grounds for apprehension warrant that action, to warn American citizens of any real danger and inform them of measures taken.