711.672/231: Telegram
The High Commissioner at Constantinople (Bristol) to the Secretary of State
[Received 4:55 p.m.]
320. For the purpose of informal consultation on current matters of general interest, it has been my custom from time to time to convene the leaders of the American colony. Yesterday such a meeting was held at the Embassy with representatives of the following American interests: Constantinople College, Robert College, American Hospital, Y. W. C. A., American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions and the two schools at Constantinople subject to the Board, Chamber of Commerce, Standard Oil, American Express, American Insurance Companies, and American Foreign Trade Corporation.
[Page 1151]It was reported by those present at the meeting that their various activities were on the whole progressing satisfactorily under the present regime in Turkey, that the difficulties encountered every now and then are not different in degree from those difficulties to which, during the Sultan’s regime, they had become accustomed, and that the Turkish authorities in settling these difficulties have been found to be reasonable and well disposed. In declaring that their work was proceeding to their satisfaction the heads of the educational institutions were especially emphatic and they stated that they look forward to the future with reasonable confidence. However, all present were unanimous in deploring the unsettled status of American interests in Turkey and in desiring therefore the ratification of our treaties. I had not intended that this question of our treaties should be brought up at this meeting, but it was introduced spontaneously in the course of the discussions. It would be most unfortunate, was the view expressed, for people in the United States whose interest in Turkey was at best intangible, to jeopardize the practical work of American philanthropists, educators, and business men in Turkey by preventing or delaying ratification. Failure to ratify, it was stated, would complicate the political relations between the two countries to such an extent as to render difficult, if not impossible, the continuance in Turkey of American activities of any kind.
On its own initiative the Chamber of Commerce on December 6th sent to its New York section a telegram to be read at the annual banquet of that section on December 7th, in which emphasis was laid on the importance of the early ratification of the treaties.