251.11 Insull, Samuel/506: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Turkey (Skinner)
17. Your 31, April 5, 11 a.m.41 Please explain to the Foreign Minister that this Government is as anxious as the Turkish Government to remove the prisoner with consideration for his comfort and safety and at the earliest possible moment. Unless you perceive some objection point out the difficulties of having him pass through Greek territory and state that these would not be removed by taking him via the Orient Express. Also explain the difficulty of obtaining on such short notice unmolested passage for the prisoner through the several countries traversed by that train.
To avoid the fatiguing overland journey it is suggested that the prisoner might leave on April 9 for Aleppo on the Taurus Express which is understood to be equal in accommodations to the Orient Express. After passing the night at a hotel in Aleppo the prisoner would be taken by automobile to Beirut, arriving there on the 11th to await the sailing of the S. S. Patria of the Messageries Maritimes for Alexandria on April 14. At Alexandria he would board the Dollar Line vessel President Monroe sailing on April 17 for New York. This journey is obviously an easy one and undoubtedly much less tiring than the overland journey through Europe.
[Page 581]If this proposal is satisfactory telegraph the Consul General at Beirut to make necessary arrangements for passage on the S. S. Patria and for the automobile journey from Aleppo to Beirut.
The Department will instruct you regarding the warrant and designation of agent to receive surrender upon receipt of a reply to its 32, April 4, 6 p.m.42