File No. 763.72/1341
The Ambassador in Turkey ( Morgenthau ) to the Secretary of State 1
Constantinople , December 21, 1914, 8 p.m.
[Received December 24, 11 p.m.]
[Telegram]
191. Payas, near Alexandretta, was bombarded yesterday and a military train received considerable damage. This morning I received following telegram from Young, Damascus:
Commandant Syrian army communicates through you that all the Englishmen of this region are imprisoned Damascus and that if fire is opened on undefended city of Alexandretta to-morrow morning and Ottoman subjects are killed he will shoot a number of Englishmen to be decided by him. Communicate this immediately to Commandant of the British war vessel who has given ultimatum.
American Consular Agent
Called on Minister of the Interior who read to me telegram stating that the British Commander had demanded release of French and British and surrender of war materials within eighteen hours otherwise he would bombard the Government buildings, telegraph office, customhouse and quays. Djemal, Ottoman Commandant at Damascus, telegraphed that if the British should bombard Alexandretta or any other unfortified [port] and the bombarding should cause the death of non-combatant Ottoman subjects then he will have British or French subjects shot also if any of the Government buildings or Ottoman institutions should be destroyed by that bombardment he will destroy some of the French or British institutions in Syria, and if subsequent bombardment excites the population to attack non-combatant belligerents or Christians of the Lebanon no responsibility will be accepted. Minister of the Interior then dictated following proposition:
- (1)
- The French and British Consuls can leave immediately after release of Omar Tousson has been promised without waiting for his departure.
- (2)
- After assurances have been given that unfortified places will not be bombarded and after the release of Eyotym Sabri and Zinnoun all French and British subjects shall be left free. Those who choose to remain will be treated with respect and their property will be protected, otherwise the Ottoman Government will accept no responsibility.
Minister of the Interior requested me to telegraph to the British Commander at Alexandretta that negotiations for release of belligerents are pending and that bombardment be delayed until they could be concluded. To prevent shooting of non-combatants at Damascus I sent such a telegram but the Commander had left Alexandretta without bombarding. Minister of the Interior later informed me that the military authorities here had decided that if Alexandretta were bombarded they would intern all the French and English now in Constantinople as hostages. I strongly advised him against such a course and argued with him for over an hour. I also made very strong representations to the Grand Vizier who thoroughly coincided with my views but unfortunately has not the power to put them into force without cooperation of Minister of the Interior. Please see that I receive prompt answer.
American Ambassador
- Repeated December 25 to the Ambassadors in Great Britain and France.↩