The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Turkey (Morgenthau)

[Telegram]

134. The Department in receipt of telegram addressed to the President from Doctor Bliss and others in Beirut and from Lord Bryce through the American Ambassador, London, to the effect that grave dangers are involved in the announcement of the Ottoman policy of holding non-combatants as hostages and are apprehensive lest the sinister declaration that such hostages would be held responsible for the consequences of attacks upon coast cities by belligerent powers [sic]. Gravity of the declaration is greatly augmented by the recent proposal to remove these hostages to the interior. The Governor General says this order includes women and children. The general danger for all non-combatants greatly aggravated by the official declaration of the holy war.

Please present the above facts to the Sublime Porte and urge that all non-combatant subjects shall be permitted to leave Turkish territory without delay. Department considers reported proposal of Turkish Government to send British and French non-combatants to the interior, would, if carried out, produce most serious consequences.

Bryan