867.00/802½
The Ambassador in Turkey (Elkus) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 26.]
Dear Mr. Secretary: I have been acting as Ambassador since October 2, although I have been here since September 11, and have begun to have a fair insight into the workings of the Turkish Government.
The entire administration of affairs is in the hands of three men, Enver, Minister of War and Commander of the Army, Talaat, Minister of Interior, and Djémal, nominally Minister of Marine, but actually Commander-in-Chief of Syria and Asia Minor.
Enver has full charge of the war in Europe.
Talaat has full charge of all internal affairs, the finances, et cetera.
Djémal is absolute dictator of all affairs in Asia Minor.
Each resents the slightest interference by any of the others with his privileges and powers.
There are the usual other Ministers, Foreign Affairs, a Grand Vezier (Prime Minister), a Parliament consisting of Senators and Deputies, but they are all practically figureheads and forms. The will of these three men dominates everything.
All representatives of foreign powers are now requested to deal only with the Minister of Foreign Affairs. He really acts as a “buffer” for the three in control. He frankly says, when a request, or matter is brought to him, that it must be submitted to one or the other Department.
There is little, if any, system in administration and great delay about everything. To get a positive answer quickly to anything is an impossibility and almost so after weeks of negotiation. Delay . . . is the order as to everything. All the foreign powers find this true, and among the greatest complainants are the German and Austrian Ambassadors, who experience the same difficulties as the representatives of neutral powers.
As to military matters, it is stated that the Germans have a written agreement with the Turks, providing for the control by the German officers attached to the Turkish Army and that is the only instrument [Page 784] compelling obedience to German authority, although that is often thwarted.
The change recently made in the German Embassy, here, is due to the fact that the former Ambassador stated he could do nothing with the Turks . . .
To illustrate as to how matters are attended to here: Before I took charge, the Department requested the Embassy to obtain permission for American citizens, or the wives and children of such, living in Palestine, to leave Turkey on the Des Moines. The Chargé replied that no one had been allowed to leave Turkey, since the war began, except through Constantinople, and that it was not probable that the rule would be broken.
The Department urged this matter upon me personally and I took it up with the Grand Vezier, who was then acting as Minister of Foreign Affairs, in the absence of that Minister in Berlin, (where he remained two months endeavoring to conclude a new Treaty with Germany). After considerable urging and discussion, the Grand Vezier agreed to allow all American citizens to leave on the Des Moines from either Jaffa or another port to be designated by the War Department, which, he said, would be done in a few days.
. . . I wrote him a note the same day confirming the conversation and setting forth his promise fully and carefully. Then came the usual delay. “Military reasons required a few days delay”. Then Halil, the Minister, returned and the matter must be taken up with him. He knew nothing about it. No records appear to have been kept and he would have to inquire. At last, after the sending of several notes, making several visits, an answer was received that the supplies on the Des Moines may be landed at Jaffa, but no one may leave on the Des Moines. When attention is called, and very emphatically, to the agreement of the Grand Vezier, the answer is blithely given, if he did say so, he had no authority. Of course, it was pointed out, that I could not go behind the authority of a Minister, that it was not in my province to go to the Minister of War, to find out if the Secretary of War or anybody else had agreed to this, et cetera. It took a great deal of argument and time to obtain an agreement to this simple proposition, and then there must be a consultation with the Grand Vezier to see if he did make the promise. Of course, I pointed out that the letter had not been denied and that it was clear and explicit.
Then again, we have to meet with the most childish constructions placed upon happenings in the United States and newspaper accounts [Page 785] there of happenings here, and interviews and speeches. For instance, I am told that the real trouble about the Des Moines is an alleged statement made by my predecessor, when he returned to the United States, that the Turkish officials were willing to sell Palestine or that he could buy it. This statement was widely circulated here and the Turks now believe that the United States has designs upon their territory. They cannot believe our aims are largely humanitarian and the protection of American interests here. In some way they have come to believe that an American cruiser coming to Jaffa and taking Americans away, must be connected with the plan to buy Palestine. Every little remark about Turkey, appearing in our press, eventually comes back here, enlarged, exaggerated and misconstrued.
The Turkish officials (now and especially since the election) express a desire to be very friendly with this Embassy and they showed that to some extent in promising to exempt our Turkish employees from the military law just now enacted—but after considerable urging.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
For many years the Turks played off one foreign power against another. Usually the English against the French. Now there are indications of playing off the United States against Germany. The Germans know this and have suggested unofficially to me that we act in concert in such matters as we can agree upon. I have said, of course, submit what you wish to me and I will consult my government.
The financial situation here is bad and becoming acute.
A gold Turkish pound is worth $4.40 and it now sells for $7.20 in paper money in Constantinople. In the interior of Asia Minor it sells for $8.80 and even as high as $10.00 in paper. All gold has practically disappeared, and is hidden by those who have it. The gold in circulation was before the war about 53 million pounds, but now practically none is to be had.
We sell drafts on the United States at the rate of $3.75 to $4.10 for a Turkish pound paper, but as you will see this is at a great loss and therefore I have cabled urging that gold be sent here, if possible.
The interest on Turkey’s national debt is now 25 million pounds annually. The annual revenues just before the war were 23 millions. The expenditures are now 30 millions. So you can see what is likely to happen. Besides, it is estimated 3 millions annually in taxes have been lost, because of the Armenian massacres.
The party in power, therefore, sees its only hope in continuing the war. That makes things appear safe for the present, as Germany must make new loans to keep Turkey as an ally.
[Page 786]The Germans, Austrians and Turks were greatly interested in the result of the election. Until Friday, November 10; it was reported that Hughes was elected and there was great rejoicing by the Germans particularly about this. The Turkish newspapers contained leading articles stating that Hughes might be “truly neutral”, which they explained to be, prohibit sales of ammunition to England and permit Germany’s submarine warfare, to break England’s unlawful blockade. Then on Friday came the news that the election was in doubt, with chances in favor of the President. On Sunday, November 12, your telegram came informing us definitely of the result.
Enver, at present, is the most powerful of the ruling triumvirate. He is the Germanophil member, with German military backing, and the ever present argument of military necessity to enforce such measures, ruinous in the opinion of many, to the country’s policy, as the general calling out of all the men up to the age of forty five.
But as a matter of fact, the Turks and Germans are not very good friends. . . . The Turks are already planning how they may best get rid of German supervision as soon as the war is over. But the likelihood is the Germans, if permitted by the Entente, will retain their control even after the war.
A movement against the Greeks of the Asia Minor littoral, similar to that against the Armenians, and a renewal of Armenian deportations is said to have begun with deportations into the interior. At Smyrna, the first deportation has been started, because of a revolutionary plot said to have been discovered by the Government. Three hundred Armenian families are reported as having been sent into the interior.
The food situation has grown worse. The price of bread has been raised again. All other food prices are being increased in proportion. Well-to-do people can still buy everything they need. But there is a distinct visible augmentation of misery among the poor.
The Jews, for the present, seem to be let alone. In Asiatic Turkey, Djémal is strongly opposed to the Zionists, as he believes they are a political party, and has sent two of their leaders from Palestine to Turkey. The talk about purchasing Palestine has helped to create this feeling and also unwise talk by Zionists in the United States.
I hope that these letters may be of some interest, but it is difficult, so far away, to know exactly what to write about.
Yours sincerely,