Office of the Historian

File No. 767.70/73.

The American Ambassador to the Secretary of State.

[Telegrams.—Paraphrases.]
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.