767.68119/174: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Special Mission at Lausanne
10. Department was much interested in your no. 8 of November 22. Department wishes to know whether Djelal-ed-Din Arif Bey is a member with full powers of the Turkish delegation, and whether he fairly represents his colleagues in the views he has expressed and which you have reported in your telegram.
In your opinion, to what guarantees would the Turks agree for the protection of Christian minorities? Department would be glad to receive from the Turkish Government a definite assurance that it had no desire to compel at this time an evacuation of Christians from Thrace, Constantinople, and Anatolia; a statement that it is ready to consult the views of the representatives of the other powers at Lausanne regarding means for the proper regulation of emigrations from Anatolia and for the safety of remnants left behind; and also the consent of the Turkish Government to measures enabling male relatives of refugees to rejoin their families. It is only reasonable, however, that the Turks should expect to receive pledges [Page 908] that persons to whom such permission is granted could not later be employed to fight against Turkey.
What protection do the Turks propose to give to American philanthropic establishments? With regard to capitulations, you should seek an early occasion to obtain further particulars as to what proposals for the protection of foreigners the Turks may have in mind.