File No. 763.72111/348
The Ambassador in Turkey (Morgenthau) to the Secretary of State
Constantinople, undated.
[Received August 25, 1914, 10:30 a.m.]
[Telegram]
British and Russian Ambassadors have stated to me that their respective Governments wish Turkey to remain neutral during the present war and German Ambassador states that his Government wants Turkey to avoid war but be sufficiently mobilized to prevent Russia from invading her during the present war. Russian Ambassador when requested on Saturday to stop using wireless apparatus on stationnaire sent it to Odessa to avoid making an issue of the question. British Ambassador has requested repeatedly Grand Vizier to secure permission for twenty British merchant vessels to pass through Dardanelles. Although the Grand Vizier gave orders permitting it, his orders were disobeyed. British Ambassador is chafing strongly but continues to use persuasion instead of threatening with force. Triple Entente has requested that the German sailors on the Goeben and Breslau be returned to Germany or Austria and has promised them safe conduct and although these ships have been here fourteen days, most of the German sailors are still on board and about 200 of them have been distributed amongst Turkish torpedo boats. I greatly fear that contention about these crews may prove a cases belli. The Turks are construing the present cautious and hesitating manner of Triple Entente, which is so different from their former attitude, into signs of weakness and I know that the Turks are being encouraged in that belief by the members of German military commission. British Ambassador informs me that if Goeben enters Mediterranean with the German crew, British war vessels will attack her. Through severe censorship entire press is now under control of the military and is being constantly used to create strong pro-German feeling. Sentiment among Turkish Cabinet as to the maintenance or cessation of neutrality is now closely balanced. I have just been informed that my advice at present stage might have considerable weight. Our interests here are best served by the preservation of Turkey’s neutrality. Would it meet the Department’s approval to have me urge Minister of War and Minister of Interior to remain neutral? I believe a strong presentation to them of their financial, commercial, and military unpreparedness and of the damaging consequences of their antagonizing Triple Entente who are in complete control of the Mediterranean and therefore can capture Smyrna, Beirut, Alexandretta, Mersina, Jaffa, and Haifa in a short time would convince them to remain neutral.