File No. 867.4016/100
The Ambassador in Turkey (Morgenthau) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 23, 8.15 a. m.]
947. My 936. At the urgent request of Leslie I sent Edelman with relief funds to Urfa. Turkish authorities refuse permission for disbursement of funds. Minister of the Interior requested me to withdraw both Leslie and Edelman, but I refused unless he permit all belligerents to leave Urfa, and refused to withdraw Edelman until Leslie was recognized. Despatches from Leslie stated that treatment by Turks of caravans of deported Armenians passing through Urfa outrages all sense of decency and that all Christians in Urfa [endangered?]. I was therefore extremely anxious that all women and children leave there, and upon my insistent requests Minister of War [Page 978] has permitted 44 British, French, and Russian women and children to leave [for] Alexandretta. Also promised that 30 who are on their way from Beirut to Urfa will be stopped at Aleppo and sent to Alexandretta. There are also 128 British Jews from Aleppo at Beirut where they have been for 23 days awaiting transportation to some English port. They are clamoring for prompt action and would prefer greatly being sent to Egypt. Turkish authorities insist that these women and children leave Turkey. British and French authorities should promptly inform me where I should send them on one of our cruisers.1
- Latter portion transmitted to the Ambassador in Great Britain, August 26, No. 2026.↩