Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, 1914, Supplement, The World War

File No. 367.11/165

The Ambassador in Turkey (Morgenthau) to the Secretary of State

American Embassy,
Constantinople, August 5, 1914, 12 noon.
[Received August 7, 11:40 p.m.]

[Telegram]

Consul General at Beirut telegraphs as follows:

In the absence of all European cruisers on the Syrian coast public opinion clamors for the presence of some American vessels to prevent anarchy. Please arrange Secretary of State. Urgent.

Scorpion absolutely necessary here. If Beirut request is granted, I wish to warn you Smyrna and Black Sea similar demand.

Morgenthau

The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Turkey (Morgenthau)

[Telegram]

Department of State,
Washington , August 8, 1914, 5 p.m.

Cannot send ships to Beirut, Smyrna, and Black Sea. Scorpion will remain at Constantinople.

W.J.Bryan