File No. 763.72/1652
The Ambassador in Turkey (Morgenthau) to the Secretary of State
[Received April 2.]
Sir: Referring to my previous despatches in regard to objections raised by the Ottoman Government to the presence of neutral war vessels in Ottoman territorial waters, I have the honor to transmit herewith copy and translation of a further note verbale on this subject received from the Sublime Porte, in which the request is made that this Embassy instruct the commanders of the two American cruisers which are stationed on the Syrian coast to leave and not to return.1
In sending this note the Sublime Porte would seem to desire to maintain its point of view as set forth in its former note of December 27 last (see my telegram No. 218 of December 27, 19141). When this latter note was received I spoke to Talaat Bey and was told in reply that the Ottoman Government would raise no serious objections if the Tennessee and North Carolina remained in Turkish waters. Under the present circumstances I do not deem it advisable to accede to this request of the Ottoman Government, and have therefore secured the Minister of War’s verbal consent to have the ships stay.
I have [etc.]