TURKEY. WAR BETWEEN TURKEY AND MONTENEGRO, SERBIA, BULGARIA AND GREECE.-PROTECTION OF AMERICAN INTERESTS.-GOOD OFFICES OF NEUTRAL POWERS. File No. 767.70/16. The American Ambassador to the Secretary of State. [Telegrams.-Paraphrases.-Extracts.] AMERICAN EMBASSY, Constantinople, October 8, 1912. The Chargé d'Affaires of Montenegro to-day presented a declaration of war to the Turkish Government, which has ordered immediate offensive action. File No. 767.70/24. ROCKHILL. AMERICAN EMBASSY, Constantinople, October 10, 1912. The Ambassadors of the European Powers to-day delivered to the Minister for Foreign Affairs a joint note. File No. 767.70/26. ROCKHILL. AMERICAN EMBASSY, Constantinople, October 14, 1912. The reply of the Turkish Government to the joint note of the Ambassadors says that the necessity for reforms in European Turkey had already been recognized, and that the Turkish Government expects to apply them without foreign interference; that if attempts at reform heretofore made have failed it is due to the disturbing machinations of agitators whose object is apparent; that the Turkish Government is grateful for the friendly intention of the Powers and will associate itself with them to avert conflict, and firmly intends to execute the law of 1880, although it doubts the binding force of Article 23 of the Treaty of Berlin when many other articles thereof have been carried. out against the treaty's letter and spirit. The reply further says that it would be unjust to impute to the constitutional administration the faults of the old régime. The Bulgarian Minister to-day delivered a note giving Bulgaria's peace terms: autonomy of the three Macedonian provinces; Swiss or Belgian governors general; elective provincial assemblies; gendarmerie; free education; milice; the application to be intrusted to Christians and Moslems in equal number in a superior council under supervision of the great Powers and the Balkan States through their representatives at Constantinople; these reforms to be put in force within six months and demobilization ordered as proofs of assent. ROCKHILL. File No. 767.70/33. The American Minister to Roumania to the Secretary of State. [Telegrams.-Paraphrases.] AMERICAN LEGATION, Bucharest, October 18, 1912. To-day Servia declared war with Turkey. JACKSON. File No. 767.70/35. AMERICAN LEGATION, Bucharest, October 18, 1912. War with Turkey declared by Bulgaria. JACKSON. File No. 767.70/37. The American Ambassador to the Secretary of State. [Telegram-Paraphrase.] AMERICAN EMBASSY, Constantinople, October 18, 1912. War with Turkey declared to-day by Greece. The Ministers of Greece, Bulgaria, and Turkey have departed. ROCKHILL. File No. 767.70/44. The Chargé d'Affaires of Greece to the Secretary of State, No. 4676.] [Translation.] GREEK LEGATION, Washington, October 18, 1912. MR. SECRETARY OF STATE: Pursuant to orders from my Government, I have the honor to bring the following information to your excellency's notice: The anarchy which is reigning in Turkey and which is so deeply disturbing the repose and security of the neighboring countries having become aggravated recently, the great Powers have deemed it necessary to take into hand the accomplishment of the reforms provided in article 23 of the Treaty of Berlin; in response to this most recent expression of the collective will of Europe, the Sublime Porto resorted to a procedure which has served it more than once; it declared that it would enforce important reforms both in Turkey in Europe and in the provinces of Asia, but that it does not believe that any foreign interference in the enforcement will be beneficial to the reforms. This promise of the Ottoman Government to enforce serious reforms itself met everywhere that distrust of which Count Andrassy spoke in his note of September 30, 1875; one of the chief causes of this distrust, which the former Chancellor of Austria-Hungary rightly said was deeply rooted, must be sought in the fact that more than one measure announced in the recent rescripts of the Sultan has been proclaimed without the lot of the Christians being appreciably improved thereby, and for 37 years events have abundantly demonstrated the correctness of this judgment. Therefore, the Royal Governments of Bulgaria, Greece, and Servia, being unable to tolerate any longer the sufferings of their countrymen in Turkey and a situation big with dangers for the future, had decided to ask an efficient supervision for the preparation and accomplishment of the only radical reforms capable of improving the miserable lot of the Christians, and the pacification of the peninsula of the Balkans. This last attempt, the moderateness of which stands in contrast to the provocative attitude of Turkey, which had without serious cause mobilized against the Balkan States, having failed, and the rupture of diplomatic relations having been ordered by the Sublime Porte. the Royal Governments of Bulgaria, Greece, and Servia found themselves obliged, to their great regret, to resort to the force of arms. Greece being therefore in a state of war with Turkey, addresses to her a formal declaration in accordance with article 1 of the convention on the opening of hostilities of October 17, 1907. The purpose which she is pursuing in declaring war coincides with the interests of all civilized peoples, for the foreigners residing in the provinces whose permanent pacification is the object of the war can not help benefiting by this pacification under a reign of order, freedom, and progress. The interests of the citizens of all countries are sure to be protected, while material prosperity and intellectual development are certain to be the object of constant and enlightened solicitude. Therefore, the Royal Government believes that it may count on the sympathies of friendly nations, and it makes an urgent appeal to the Government of the United States not to refuse it its benevolent neutrality in the arduous task it has just assumed. Please accept [etc.] L. L. CAFTANZOGLU. File No. 767.70/41. The American Minister to Roumania to the Secretary of State. [Telegram.-Paraphrase.] AMERICAN LEGATION, Bucharest, October 21, 1912. An urgent appeal to the United States not to refuse its benevolent neutrality has just been made by the Government of Bulgaria. File No. 767.70 41. JACKSON. The Secretary of State to the American Minister to Roumania. [Telegram.-Paraphrase.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, October 30, 1912. The request of Bulgaria conveyed in your telegram of the 21st is being considered. The Department's decision will be sent you by telegraph. Meanwhile you may say, if pressed for a reply, that this Government has not thus far found it necessary to make any further or more formal declaration of neutrality, in view of the comprehensive provisions of the Neutrality Act: see Revised Statutes, sections 5281 to 5291, both inclusive. File No. 767.70/73. The American Ambassador to the Secretary of State. [Telegrams.-Paraphrases.] ΚΝΟΧ. AMERICAN EMBASSY, Constantinople, October 31, 1912. It is rumored that the Bulgarian army is rapidly approaching Constantinople. In anticipation of a possible serious defeat of the Turkish army, and the consequent danger of this city with the routed troops thrown back upon it unprotected by military and police (nearly all of whom are at the front) from looting and violence, even massacres, it was to-day resolved at a meeting of the Diplomatic Corps: 1. That strong representations be made in the name of the Corps by its Dean, urging that all necessary protective measures be taken to insure the safety of the lives and property of foreign residents. 2. That the members of the Corps recommend to their Governments the presence of foreign war vessels as the only measure, in their opinion, likely to insure safety of life and property of foreigners; that they further recommend a conference of their Governments to this end; that meanwhile the Dean secure permission for the passage of such vessels through the Straits and the Bosphorus. ROCKHILL. File No. 767.70/75. AMERICAN EMBASSY, Constantinople, November 1, 1912. The Government has already taken certain steps for the safety of the city in pursuance of the representations made by the Diplomatic Corps. File No. 767.70/78. ROCKHILL. AMERICAN EMBASSY, Constantinople, November 4, 1912. At request of Diplomatic Corps permission was granted yesterday for passage of warships to protect foreign life and property. File No. 367.11/7B. The Acting Secretary of State to the American Ambassador. [Telegram.-Paraphrase.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, November 4, 1912. The conditions at Constantinople described in your telegram of October 31 are naturally creating anxiety here. It is assumed that you would, if occasion arise, find it possible to arrange for extension by the naval forces of the friendly neutral Powers of adequate protection of such American citizens as can not be accommodated on the [station ship] Scorpion. There is no available American vessel nearer than our own shores. ADEE. File No. 367.11/8. The American Ambassador to the Secretary of State. [Telegrams. Paraphrases.] AMERICAN EMBASSY, Constantinople, November 5, 1912-2 p. m. The Minister for Foreign Affairs assures me that adequate protection will be given our schools at Sentari and Robert College. I am investigating, through the captain of the Scorpion the measures taken by the Turkish authorities; if necessary I shall add to the protection with some of our sailors. The pupils in the schools, mostly of Greek and Bulgarian nationalities, are under the protection of Russia and France. The Americans have all been told where to take refuge in case of need. I hope to be able to protect them, but if necessary I will ask aid of neutral vessels. I consider it prudent to keep all Americans living in the outskirts as long as possible in Robert College. As we have no ships here I am not consulted by my colleagues, who have conferred as to plans for their own use. ROCKHILL File No. 767.70, 90. AMERICAN EMBASSY, Constantinople, November 5, 1912.-7 p. m. All of the Powers save one have accepted mediation and the Minister for Foreign Affairs believes that if mediation be made immediately it will prevent the possibility of the violence and anarchy that would result in case of a Turkish defeat and the disorderly entry of troops into the city. He therefore requested me to ask you to instruct our representatives at the capitals of the allied Powers in the interest of humanity to urge cessation of hostilities immediately. ROCKHILL. 67106° -FR 1912 85 |