Page images
PDF
EPUB

has been canceled and that for the moment the intention is not to renew it.

Permission for Engert1 to come here now could not be obtained, Minister of War refusing absolutely, but he will leave with Ambassador. I communicated with Engert, concerning whom there is no reason for anxiety. Sixteen Americans are expected to-day from Smyrna.

MORRIS

File No. 367.11/2038

The Minister in Sweden (Morris) to the Secretary of State

[Telegram]

341. From Constantinople: 2

STOCKHOLM, May 8, 1917.
[Received May 9, 3.30 a. m.]

[May] 2. Owing to difficulties made almost up to last minute yesterday by police refusing to act without instructions signed by Minister of Interior, no Americans left today. They assure me that [instructions] were given May 1, 8 p. m., and we can therefore hope that at least some will leave 4th; however, it appears that from military quarters difficulties are being made against departure of men between 18 and 45. I am now trying to have such an unjustifiable measure canceled. Djavid has promised to assist. He and Foreign Minister declared themselves unable to receive today. I [saw] Minister of War and shall make urgent representations to Foreign Minister.

MORRIS

File No. 367.11/2038

The Secretary of State to the Minister in Sweden (Morris)

[Telegram]

WASHINGTON, May 9, 1917, 6 p. m.

194. Your 341, May 8. For Constantinople:

Your [May] 2 in regard to difficulties made against departure from Turkey of American men between 18 and 45. If the Turkish Government is in fact preventing their departure the Department would be much embarrassed, inasmuch as it was preparing to facili

1

1 Cornelius Van H. Engert, Vice Consul at Constantinople, on special duty in Syria and Palestine.

2 See footnote 2, ante, p. 247.

3 Djavid Bey, Turkish Minister of Finance.

tate the departure of unofficial Turkish subjects from the United States to Bergen on May 19 by securing safe-conducts from the British and French Governments. Please so inform Sublime Porte and cable reply.

LANSING

File No. 701.6711/134

The Secretary of State to the Spanish Ambassador (Riaño)

MEMORANDUM

The Secretary of State presents his compliments to the Spanish Ambassador, and has the honor to inform him, in reply to his note of May 2, that safe-conducts will be granted by the United States and British Governments to Constantin Mavroudi Effendi, late Second Secretary of the Imperial Ottoman Embassy at Washington, Djélal Bey, late Ottoman Consul General at New York, and his wife on their journey from New York to Bergen by the steamship Kristianiafjord, sailing from the former port on May 19, 1917. WASHINGTON, May 12, 1917.

File No. 763.72115/3135

The Minister in Switzerland (Stovall) to the Secretary of State

[Telegram]

BERNE, May 15, 1917. [Received May 16, 3 a. m.]

911. Spanish Minister, Berne, transmits me following telegram received from Spanish Ambassador, Vienna:

Your note April 20 relative proposed agreement between American and Austro-Hungarian Governments for repatriation American citizens in Dual Monarchy and Austrian and Hungarian subjects in the United States.1 Ministry Foreign Affairs in note dated May 7 states Austro-Hungarian Government prepared to eliminate clause restricting time of departure to four weeks after rupture of relations and to authorize departure of Americans without restriction as to time, provided that the American Government expressly declares itself prepared to permit all Austrians and Hungarians-except those falling within categories mentioned in paragraph 3 of proposed agreement to depart from the United States in any direction whatsoever. Upon same conditions of reciprocity, Imperial and Royal Government prepared to eliminate paragraph 2 and to add to end of paragraph 3 the words " or a menace to the national safety."

'See telegram to the Minister in Switzerland, Apr. 16, 1917, ante, p. 245.

Copy of note by mail. Telegraphic reply requested. Castro, Ambassador.

STOVALL

File No. 367.11/2067

The Minister in Sweden (Morris) to the Secretary of State

[Telegram]

STOCKHOLM, May 18, 1917.
[Received 9.30 p. m.]

369. From Constantinople: 1

List of Americans who have left Constantinople since May 4. [Here follows the list.]

Except a few naturalized citizens all Americans residents of Constantinople desiring to leave have already left for Switzerland. Not counting officers and crew of Scorpion with their families, numbering in all 85, there are about 70 other Americans residents of this city still here, none of whom now desire to leave. There are now in Constantinople 8 Americans from Brusa and Smyrna whose departure could not be arranged in time. All Americans have left Brusa and no more will leave Smyrna, but many others wish to leave rest of Asia Minor and Syria. These can come here only gradually to leave with Ambassador or after new arrangement with Vienna. Consular personnel from Jerusalem and Beirut are on their way here. Jackson will presumably soon leave Aleppo. No word yet received concerning departure of Davis from Harput and Nathan from Mersina.

MORRIS

File No. 763.72115/3135

The Secretary of State to the Minister in Switzerland (Stovall)

[Telegram]

WASHINGTON, May 19, 1917. 591. Your 911, May 15. Inform Austro-Hungarian Government through Spanish channels that this Government agrees to proposal contained in the note of May 7 from the Austro-Hungarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to Spanish Ambassador at Vienna and considers that by its acceptance the agreement is in effect thenceforth during the period of suspension of relations.

1 1 See footnote 2, ante, p. 247.

LANSING

File No. 367.11/2076a

The Secretary of State to the Minister in Sweden (Morris)

[Telegram]

WASHINGTON, May 29, 1917, 7 p. m.

219. Request Swedish Government to instruct Swedish Minister, Constantinople, to investigate and cable full report concerning status Americans remaining in Turkey and as to their opportunities for leaving the country. Information particularly desired as to whether any obstacles are put in the way of Americans leaving, and especially whether American men between 18 and 45 are prohibited from leaving. If the Turkish Government is in fact preventing the departure of these men the Department will be much embarrassed, inasmuch as it has been preparing to facilitate the departure of unofficial Turkish subjects from the United States.

LANSING

File No. 367.11/2083

The Minister in Sweden (Morris) to the Secretary of State

[Telegram]

STOCKHOLM, June 5, 1917.
[Received 10 p. m.]

414. From Swedish Legation, Constantinople:

As already reported, all Americans, including men aged 18 to 45, are now permitted to leave Turkey. All American residents of Constantinople desiring to depart have already left for Switzerland. Eight unofficial Americans from Brusa and Smyrna are now in Constantinople awaiting opportunity to cross Austria-Hungary. I have received reports from Americans at Smyrna, Samsun, Konia, Marsivan, Adana, Aintab, Aleppo, Alexandretta, Tarsus, Marache, and Bagdad, that all are well and that no more will leave those places. Forty-eight [Fifty-eight?] Americans are so far reported en route to Constantinople, 32 from Beirut, 10 from Harput, 7 from Aintab, 6 from Mersina, 1 from Maden [Mardin], 1 from Jerusalem, 1 from Caesarea, making total of at least 66 unofficial Americans wishing to leave. None of these persons can now cross Austria-Hungary without special authorization, to obtain which immediate steps should be taken at Vienna.

MORRIS

File No. 367.11/2082

The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Spain (Willard)

[Telegram]

WASHINGTON, June 8, 1917.

Austro

516. Swedish Minister at Constantinople, in charge of American interests in Turkey, reports that time limit set by Austro-Hungarian Government for Americans leaving Turkey to cross Hungarian territory has expired. The number of Americans wishing to leave is around 100 at the present time and there may be others in the interior who have not made intentions known. Request Foreign Office to instruct Spanish Ambassador at Vienna to inform AustroHungarian Government of the foregoing, and to ask that those now waiting at Constantinople may be given permission to cross AustriaHungary en route to Berne and that the time limit for crossing may be extended to July 15. Cable reply from Spanish Ambassador desired. LANSING

File No. 367.11/2130

The Ambassador in Spain (Willard) to the Secretary of State

[Telegram]

MADRID, June 29, 1917.
[Received 5 p. m.]

644. Department's 516, [June] 8. Spanish Ambassador, Vienna, reports that Austro-Hungarian Government agrees to allow Americans from Turkey to pass through Austria-Hungary without fixing time limit, on condition that Austrian representative, Constantinople, issue personal certificate in each individual case. The Spanish Minister in Constantinople has been informed of above agreement. WILLARD

File No. 763.72115/3164

The Minister in Sweden (Morris) to the Secretary of State

[Telegram]

STOCKHOLM, July 13, 1917.
[Received 12 midnight.]

532. Following from Constantinople received from Foreign Office: The Sublime Porte informs me that according to a telegram from the Spanish Ambassador at Washington the American Government has withdrawn the permission granted to certain Ottoman subjects to leave America for a neutral country in Europe, and that consequently permission hitherto accorded by the Ottoman Government for the departure of Americans in Turkey without distinction of age or sex will be withdrawn until the Ottoman Government is

« ՆախորդըՇարունակել »