Office of the Historian

711.672/308: Telegram

The High Commissioner in Turkey (Bristol) to the Secretary of State

[Paraphrase]
Constantinople, July 9, 1924—8 p.m.
[Received July 12—6:40 p.m.]

148. My telegram 81 of April 27, noon, paragraph 1. None of questions mentioned have been settled. Indeed the situation has become worse, as will be shown by following brief summaries of matters immediately pending.

1.
Case of George W. McCarthy.26 I communicated to the Turkish Government substance of the note proposed in your telegram 111, June 17, 3 [6] p.m.27 I am informed now that as the views of the Foreign Office in regard to according diplomatic immunity to McCarthy are not shared by the Minister of Justice, the Turkish Government cannot act in accordance with the assurances which were given previously to [by?] the Under Secretary.
2.
…
3.
On June 26 Barnes28 was informed by the Minister of National Defense that Adamopoulos29 would be freed within a week and that orders had been sent to Smyrna for his release under general amnesty. Bird30 reported on July 7 that corps commander had received no such orders.
4.
Report from head of Tarsus school says that orders prohibiting reopening of school have just come from Angora.

I have instructed Barnes to make categorical protests on the first two points. To date repeated representations on the last two points have had no results.

I request in view of this accumulation of serious difficulties that the Department authorize me to go to Angora and confer with Ismet Pasha, if that is necessary. At the same time I would like instructions as to just how far I can go in informing Ismet of the consequences which will result from the unfriendly attitude which apparently [Page 734] the Turkish Government is intent upon taking. It is my belief that it would not be of value to me to receive detailed or mandatory instructions, but I should wish to be able, if I find Ismet indifferent or hostile, to state with authority the extent to which the American Government would be prepared to go, in addition to remonstrating and placing diplomatic protests on record.

In my opinion the situation is graver than it has been at any time during my service as High Commissioner. I suggest possibility of conferring in London with you to give you complete information but do not wish this proposal to delay your immediate instructions.

Bristol
  1. A petty officer in the U. S. Navy on duty with the High Commission at Constantinople. On May 22, 1924, while on guard, he discharged his pistol, fatally wounding a Turk. The Navy board of inquiry found the shooting to be accidental. McCarthy was arrested by the Turkish authorities on a charge of murder and held in jail for about three weeks, after which he was released on bail. The United States claimed diplomatic immunity for McCarthy and demanded that the charge be withdrawn. This was refused. McCarthy forfeited bail and left Turkey without awaiting trial.↩
  2. Not printed.↩
  3. Maynard B. Barnes, delegate at Angora of the American High Commission at Constantinople.↩
  4. Adam Adamopoulos, a naturalized American citizen born in Greece, who had been residing in Smyrna, was arrested by the Turkish authorities on charges of high treason and other crimes allegedly committed during the Greek occupation of Smyrna. The treason charge was dropped and Adamopoulos was acquitted on other charges and released Aug. 18, 1924, after being held in jail for more than six months.↩
  5. Frederick O. Bird, vice consul at Smyrna.↩