File No. 711.673/40.
The Turkish Ambassador to the Secretary of State.
Washington , September 17, 1914 .
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your note of yesterday’s date replying to my note of the 10th inst informing the Government of the United States of the decision of the Sublime Porte to abrogate the Capitulations as from the 1st of October next.
I notice that at the same time as the Government of the United States does not recognize the right of the Ottoman Government to set aside the Capitulations it does not acquiesce in the latter’s endeavour to free itself from them. This I take to mean that the principle itself of the removal of these restrictions on Turkish sovereignty is to be opposed by the United States.
Accept [etc.].