File No. 867.48/556
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Turkey ( Elkus)
[Telegram]
Washington,
February 27, 1917, 4 p.m.
3379. Your 2513, February 23, leaves Department greatly in doubt as to situation. Important that matter be settled definitely, once and for all, immediately. Des Moines and Caesar cannot be sent to Beirut unless Turkish Government furnishes positive guarantee, both from itself and from German and Austrian Embassies, as to the safety of these ships.
Lansing