THE LANSING PAPERS, 1914-1920, VOLUME I



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 Charge 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 conversa-
tion 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 enm-
phatically, 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 ac-



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