763.72/2934½
The Ambassador in Turkey (Elkus) to the Secretary of State
[Received October 24.]
Dear Mr. Secretary: I would like to add to the observations contained in my letter of the fourteenth [fifteenth] certain notes on conditions as I found them in Vienna. In this city, though the general impression gained (for reasons hereinafter stated) is less depressing than in Berlin, the actual situation is much worse. Food is much more expensive, meat one dollar a pound, sugar beyond reach of the poor, as is butter—flour and bread difficult to obtain (on some days one is met by the statement in poorer-class restaurants that “today we have received no allotment of bread and therefore can serve none with meals”). It is now impossible to obtain a really satisfying meal even in a cheap, third-rate restaurant under seventy five cents. The currency has depreciated until a krone is worth only half of what it formerly was. Yet salaries have not increased, and salaried people find their financial resources cut in two. Commodities not classified as food: clothes, shoes, et cetera, now cost twice and three times as much as before the war. Even carfares have been increased more than ten percent. I was assured the condition of the poor is lamentable in the extreme.
Meanwhile the prospects for an increase of food supplies are very bad. Austria never has sufficient food to feed itself, and always imports food from Hungary. This year Hungarian as well as Austrian crops have been particularly bad. Therefore, while Austria faces an unusual food stringency, Hungary is not in a position to supply the deficit. This matter was recently the subject of acrimonious argument in the Hungarian parliament; where it was asserted that Hungary had food enough only for itself, and would, under no circumstances, send any to Austria. Budapest at present has plenty of food (this information comes from a reliable source), although prices are very high. But I was assured that there would [Page 781] be “trouble” (meaning political disturbances) if any attempt were made to send food from Hungary in quantities to Austria. The feeling of Hungarians in general toward Austria is bitter, because it is claimed that the Austrians have pushed the Hungarians into all the most difficult positions on the front but have done little or no real fighting themselves. Naturally the Austrians reciprocate Hungarian animosity. However this is a traditional feud, and need not be given too much weight in figuring political consequences.
These are the reasons why conditions are actually worse in Vienna and Austria than in Germany. The reasons why the general feeling in Vienna seems better than in Germany are as follows:
- 1.
- The Austrian and more particularly the Viennese temperament is more cheerful than that of the Germans. Even hard times fail seriously to affect Viennese light-heartedness.
- 2.
- The upper and middle classes, who parade the main streets
and fill the cafés have really more reason to be cheerful
than the people in a corresponding station of life in
Germany.
- a.
- Government food regulations are not strictly enforced as in Germany. Bread, meat, sugar cards are now in use, theoretically limiting individual consumption of these commodities. But as a matter of fact people of means can purchase any thing they want at exorbitant prices. Some families keep a servant to do nothing else all day, but stand at various food stations and purchase supplies. Thus well-to-do households really have almost all the luxuries. Even the three meatless days are not adhered to with absolute strictness.
- b.
- Many well-to-do families have no one at the front and therefore do not fear that they will be affected by the frightful loss of life. There has been tremendous favoritism in recruiting. Money and influence keep a large percentage of the rich out of danger, in sinecures. So while the age limit for drafting men has been advanced almost to the middle period of life, many young men are seen about town (often in uniform) who have never done active duty. This, in spite of the fact, that the streets are full of convalescent officers and soldiers limping along on canes. A new call had just been issued for recruits, when I was in Vienna, and a great many of the well-to-do men feared that, because the supply of human material without “protection” (the Austrian word for “pull”) had been exhausted, they would not be able any longer to avoid service.
To return to the food situation. Owing to government favoritism which permits the well-to-do to purchase as much as they can pay for, the prospects are that the eventual pinch will be felt more keenly in Austria than in Germany. The German authorities, by enforcement of food-consumption restrictions, no doubt are enabled to hoard supplies for the future. The Austrians meantime are living beyond their income, consuming their capital. This is, of course, even more [Page 782] true of Turkey, where the whole Empire is being denuded of cattle and grain to feed Constantinople and the army. When there are no more herds of sheep and cows left to be driven down to the Golden Horn and no more grain to be sent to the capital’s markets, Constantinople will be facing starvation. That is the general opinion here. To a very much more limited extent similar conditions exist in Austria and Vienna.
Here, from a confidential personal source, I am told that the Germans have told the Turks that they need be very “nice” to the Americans as the United States will have much to say in the peace negotiations and are very powerful. As I am told that the Germans have largely instigated the Turks in their past conduct, this is, to say the least, interesting. As yet, as I have not been received by the Sultan, but will be on October 2, I have not seen any of the official Germans or official Turks except one or two.
I also learned, from two different sources, that there is much ill-feeling against the Germans and those who are in accord with them here, that this feeling is particularly strong in the army among both officers and men, and is shared by the people themselves to some extent.
It was openly rumored a few days ago that the Turkish army at Sivas, fighting the Russians, threatened to revolt, unless a separate peace was at once negotiated by Turkey. A large number of troops, I am told, have deserted. It is also stated that Talaat or Enver or both may be assassinated any day, as soon, in fact, as the committee of Union and Progress considers their usefulness at an end, or should decide that it was time to make a separate peace. But there has been talk about this for more than a year. The story of the differences between Enver and Talaat still grows. Enver wishes to sacrifice everything to the army. He is urging, according to latest reports, the abrogation of all exemptions from military service, despite the fact that such exemptions have been purchased at the rate of $300 a piece. Talaat, it is claimed, believes this policy dishonest, and, in addition, argues that the small number of exempted men are necessary, in any case, to carry on the commerce and industries of the country. It is not here, like in Germany and France, where women can take the place of men. The women of Turkey would not be permitted by custom, and are not fitted by training, to take over the work of men. There is great bitterness in Constantinople over Enver’s threat to call the exempted men.
Closely allied with this subject, is the question of the scarcity of agricultural labor, of men and beasts on the farms. The government has given great publicity to a law passed to conscript agricultural labor and put it under military régime. Also a great deal has been [Page 783] said about the possibility of making machinery take the place of men and draft animals. All this, however, is very much up in the air, and it is doubtful whether anything can be done of consequence in this direction before the war’s end to alleviate the food situation.
Very sincerely yours,