File No. 763.72/491
The Ambassador in Turkey (Morgenthau) to the Secretary of State
Constantinople, August 15, 1914, 4 p.m.
[Received August 18, 1 p.m.]
[Telegram]
Am still waiting reply to my cipher telegram of August 11, 11 a.m.1 Received to-day telegrams from Consul General at Beirut stating that President Bliss, American College, desires my impressing strongly on Secretary of State grave immediate necessity for the protection of American life and property and that announcement of early arrival of American ships would have wonderfully tranquilizing effect.
Consul General states: “Situation very critical, colleagues urge that only the presence American warships can assure preservation of order. Please advise when can expect.”
[Page 67]Americans in all parts of the Empire fear for their safety. Consider demands of Beirut and Smyrna for battleships fully justified in view of strong anti-Christian feeling fanned among lower classes of Moslems. British Chargé d’Affaires promised me in case of emergency to request his Government to send British war vessels to Beirut and Smyrna until American ships can arrive. Will you request this direct from the British Government?
Russian and French Embassies resent that Goeben and Breslau still flying German flag. They charge Turkey with failure to maintain neutrality. In journalistic circles it is said that Goeben and Breslau are both damaged and Turkey is not willing to pay Germany the sum agreed upon. Representatives here of the Triple Entente charge that Germany is deliberately steering Turkey’s course so as to provoke Russia into a declaration of war.