File No. 763.72/1234a
The Acting Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Turkey ( Morgenthau )
Washington , November 20, 1914, 11 a.m.
[Telegram]
53. In view of possible misunderstandings you should not request an American warship to visit any port in Turkey until you have obtained consent of the Ottoman Government to the intended visit and local authorities at the port have been advised by their government.
Grave apprehension prevails here as to the safety of Christian missionaries. Represent to the Ottoman Government the seriousness of the situation and urge in most solemn way upon them the necessity of preventing any loss of life or property of missionaries, stating the effect a failure to protect them would have upon the opinion and action of the United States.