Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, 1916, Supplement, The World War

File No. 841.857P43/45

The Chargé in Turkey (Philip) to the Secretary of State

[Telegram]

Constantinople, March 8, 1916, noon .
[Received March 26, 9 a. m.]

1640. Your 1786,¹ February 2, 3 p. m. Note verbale from the Sublime Porte dated March 7 states that the Persia was not sunk by a submarine flying the flag of Turkey. The note adds that, Inasmuch as all naval vessels acting under the instructions of the Turkish Government must necessarily fly Ottoman flag, it could not therefore have been an Ottoman submarine or one acting under the instructions of the Turkish Government.

Philip

1. Ante, p. 156.