File No. 763.72/1152
The Ambassador in Turkey (Morgenthau) to the Secretary of State
Constantinople, October 30, 1914, noon.
[Received 10:15 p.m.]
[Telegram]
Russian Ambassador received telegram 3 o’clock this morning to demand his passport and those of entire Embassy and have all consuls leave their posts. He demanded immediate audience with the Grand Vizier who claimed illness prevents his seeing him to-day. He is now [omission?] not visible. Russian Ambassador, English and French Ambassadors are arranging to leave together and will probably start to-morrow. I am informed that Minister of Finance called on French Ambassador late yesterday evening and stated that the naval engagement took place without the knowledge of the Ottoman Government, intimating that the German officers in the Ottoman Navy had forced this issue. Italian Embassy is to take charge of Russian interests.