File No. 867.48/576
The Ambassador in Turkey ( Elkus) to the Secretary of State
[Received March 29, 7 a.m.]
2563. Your 2557, March 18, 10 a.m.1 Yesterday called at Foreign Office and urged Turkish Government to insist on a reply from Germans and Austrians. I was informed German reply had just arrived. It was communicated by note to-day. It states that Turkish War Office agrees in principle to the Des Moines calling at Jaffa to land medical supplies and take on board Deinard books, [Page 543] ritual wines, to call at Beirut and later at Mersine to land provisions and clothing for British prisoners of war.
Caesar to go to Beirut, land provisions which will be delivered to American Consul to be distributed by representatives of Red Cross and Red Crescent to the indigent in Syria and the Lebanon.
These two ships will then take on board American citizens and proceed to a European port.
Turkish note further states that German high naval command has declared that it is ready, in the following conditions, and so long as the present situation between the United States and Germany does not transform itself into a state of war:
(1) To transmit instructions to submarines operating in the eastern Mediterranean to allow Caesar and Des Moines free passage to Beirut, Jaffa, and Mersine and to return from these ports as far as the entry into the neutral channel.
(2) For this it is stipulated that American Government will agree to have these ships travel on dates, hours, and roads exactly determined; (a) detailed and precise information must be furnished as to date when these ships will arrive Syrian coast; (b) these ships must fly day and night at their mainmast large American national flag which they must have illuminated at night. These ships must follow from entry into the Mediterranean the neutral road left open to Greek navigation situated to the west of 30° 20′ east longitude as indicated on sketch enclosed. These ships must follow absolutely said route in order to occasion no incident.
(3) Said German command expects at earliest possible date delivery of an exact itinerary for these ships.
This itinerary must be in the hands of the German Naval General Staff at Berlin fully four weeks before the voyage begins so that it can notify the submarine boats thereof with certitude.
(4) Still German command is not in a position to guarantee these American ships an unimpeded passage across the Aegean Sea or to give guarantees of any nature whatsoever against the risks arising from mine fields, even its own.
(5) German command cannot guarantee against enemy weapons. British and French submarine boats are said to operate in the eastern Mediterranean and enemy naval forces have even laid mine fields before ports on the coast of Asia Minor and Syria.
(6) As to calling at a European port the said German authorities cannot undertake to guarantee their security against own submarine boats or mine fields unless the American ships, after leaving Ottoman harbors, follow road, on dates and hours exactly determined, directly leading into the neutral channel giving access into the Mediterranean, in order to call, without in any way entering waters declared to be war zone, at a European port situated outside said war zone.
Consequently German Naval General Staff at Berlin expects information likewise of itinerary to be followed to the neutral channel as well as dates and hours to be fixed.
[Page 544]The Sublime Porte states nothing as to a reply from Austria. Will draw Porte’s attention to this to-morrow and will telegraph reply as soon as received.
In this connection attention is called to my No. 2558, March 18, 10 p.m.;1 like rumors still prevail but without any confirmation. A further rumor is that the Turkish Cabinet is divided into two factions, one headed by the Grand Vizier, favoring Turkish independent action, and the other headed by Enver2 to follow Germany unreservedly.