File No. 763.72115/865
The Ambassador in Turkey (Morgenthau) to the Secretary of State
[Received July 3.]
Sir: I have the honor to bring to the notice of the Department the various phases in the course of the negotiations I have pursued since the outbreak of the war in regard to the release of the British and French subjects in Turkey. At the beginning of hostilities the disposition toward their persons, if not their property, was guided by humane and even friendly considerations. The relics of an ancient prestige derived from the capitulations and from the historic position both countries had so long enjoyed here, the fact that [Page 975] in frequent instances the British and the French had resided for so many years in Turkey, or had even been born in this country where they were favorably known, and enjoyed personal relations of friendliness with Ottomans, the feeling that any excesses toward them might later be punished, all contributed to restrain the Turkish Government from taking too harsh an attitude in its treatment of the subjects of the belligerent nations, even though hardships were in certain instances endured by them in the interior. On the other hand, while the Sublime Porte did not attach great importance to the lot of Ottomans in England and France, most of whom were non-Turks, it was keenly interested in the liberation of Prince Omar Toussoun and Ayoub Sabri and Zinnoun Beys who have been detained by the British and French Governments, and in exchange for their release was disposed to allow the free departure of all English and French from Turkey. On this basis, and with the additional understanding that unfortified places should not be bombarded, I arranged with the Ottoman Government for the departure of all English and French. Unfortunately the British Government was somewhat tardy in conveying its willingness to release Prince Omar Toussoun and, having finally done so after considerable delay, proceeded to let him go without awaiting corresponding measures on the part of the Turkish authorities.
At the same time the German Ambassador kept pressing on the Turks the advisability both of repressive measures and of detaining as hostages the subjects of the belligerent powers. I have had to encounter the persistent opposition of my German colleague in endeavoring to obtain permission for the departure of the subjects of the nationalities under our protection, and have further met with that vacillation of policy which is so characteristic of all negotiations with Oriental countries. The repeated promises given me regarding their liberation were as often withdrawn or distorted. While I have tried all along to confine my demands to the simple fulfilment of original assurances, in certain respects this has not been without difficulty. Where the basis for negotiations had been the release of all British and French, it was only after I found that I would not achieve any immediate result in this way that I asked for individual permission. I have succeeded in obtaining the departure of many English and French in this way, though usually not without some trouble. Thus, to give the Department an example, I last month secured permission for twenty-nine telephone operators to leave Turkey. When almost at the Bulgarian frontier, by order of the military authorities they were stopped, ordered to return and on arriving at Constantinople, were detained in prison. A few hours later, it is true, the Embassy secured their release and within a few days I was able once more to arrange for their departure. This time I caused them to be accompanied to the frontier by one of the student interpreters, Mr. Judelsohn, whose diligent and indefatigable services have been of great value in this work, and on many similar occasions. Yet once more they were stopped on their way and obliged to wait twenty-four hours until the Embassy could again obtain the necessary instructions for their release. This may be cited as a typical example of the present peculiar administrative system which exists here and is of course emphasized by the dominance of the military element due to the state of war.
[Page 976]Both the Minister of Interior, Talaat Bey, and the Minister of War, Enver Pasha, had repeatedly assured me that they favored the free departure of the subjects of the belligerent powers, though requiring a Cabinet decision before this could become effective, and this was postponed in order to consult the military commanders. On April 17 I was informed by Enver Pasha, as indicated to you in my telegraphic despatch No. 581,1 that all British and French, not of military age, or infirm, might leave the country. Under this permission a certain number left at once. I foresaw that the duration of the permission would be limited and urged as many as possible to take advantage of it. My fears have proved correct for when the military operations at the Dardanelles began, all permission to leave was stopped. No exception was made, and even in the case of a man eighty years of age the Minister of War declined to intervene. My own impression is that so long as the military operations at the Dardanelles continue no permission for departure will be granted.
I have [etc]
- Not printed.↩