ship and identity which would be required of him were he making an original application for a passport. If any holder of a passport appears to be not entitled to it, you should retain the passport, investigate the case, and inform the Department fully of the pertinent facts and your conclusions. All holders of emergency passports who expect to continue their residence abroad for a considerable period, should be notified to apply forthwith for regular Departmental passports. W. J. BRYAN REPRESENTATION OF BELLIGERENT GOVERNMENTS IN ENEMY COUNTRIES-PROTECTION OF THEIR INTERESTS [No extensive selection of papers on this subject is presented for the reason that the correspondence comprises mainly letters of transmission of communications from one belligerent government to another, where the American Government acts merely as an intermediary.1 The correspondence involved in taking over particular interests in various countries is likewise omitted, since it consists mainly of purely formal communications, except in the case of the exchange of telegrams, printed below, with the Minister in Belgium regarding protection of German interests there, significant because of the last sentence of the Secretary of State's reply. It is not even possible to give a complete list of specific dates on which representation of particular governments was taken over in particular places, due to the number of steps involved and the fact that American officials were sometimes called upon to act in their representative capacities before these were completed-as in the case of protection of Austrian interests in Russia, correspondence regarding which is included below." A general statement as to the extent to which representation of belligerent governments had been taken over by the United States during the first month of the war is contained in the Secretary of State's letter of September 3 to the Speaker of the House of Representatives. The other papers printed comprise general instructions on the subject, laying down principles of conduct for American officers charged with the representation of foreign governments and correspondence on certain particular cases which leads up to the state. ment of general principles or significant interpretations of them. In another section below are printed papers on the protection of British and French interests in Turkey, covering certain cases in which the action of the American Government, based on humanitarian considerations, went beyond the formal duties of representation of foreign governments.] File No. 704.6261/a The Secretary of State to the German Embassy1 [Telegram] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, August 1, 1914, 9 p. m. Answering your telegram received to-day, this Government will, if conditions require it, be pleased to comply with your Government's request and give diplomatic and consular protection to German interests in Russia with the understanding that such action will not prevent this Government's rendering similar assistance to other governments under like conditions if such request is made. BRYAN File No. 704.6261 The Secretary of State to the Chargé d'Affaires in Russia (Wilson) [Telegram] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, August 1, 1914, 10 p. m. This Government in reply to a request from the German Government has consented to take over the German Embassy in Russia in case of war with the understanding that compliance with the request will not prevent the rendering of similar assistance to any other country that may require it. You will act accordingly. Employ temporarily such assistance as you may need and keep us informed as to extra help required so that we may send from here if local supply insufficient. BRYAN File No. 704.6361/1 The Austro-Hungarian Ambassador (Dumba) to the Secretary of State [Telegram] AUSTRO-HUNGARIAN EMBASSY, Manchester, Massachusetts, August 1, 1914. [Received 10 p. m.] I am desired by Count Berchtold urgently to inquire whether Government of United States is disposed in case of rupture of our diplomatic relations to entrust protection of Austrian and Hungarian citizens and interests in Russia, France, Great Britain, and Montenegro, to the American missions and consulates in these countries. In case of an affirmative answer my Government would be obliged by 1 Repeated to the Ambassadors in Germany, France, and Great Britain. 2 Not filed; a marginal note states, "Delivered by messenger 6.30 p. m." See the request received by mail on August 4, post, p. 733. urgent instructions given in this sense to the American missions in St. Petersburg, Paris, London, and Cetinje. The earliest possible answer is expected in Vienna. DUMBA The Secretary of State to the Austro-Hungarian Ambassador (Dumba)1 [Telegram] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, August 1, 1914, 10.45 p. m. Answering your telegram received to-day this Government will, if conditions require it, be pleased to comply with your Government's request and give diplomatic and consular protection to AustroHungarian citizens and interests in Russia, France, and Great Britain with the understanding that such action will not prevent this Government rendering similar assistance to other governments under like conditions if such request is made. We regret to say we have no representative in Montenegro. BRYAN File No. 704.6200/1 The German Chargé d'Affaires (Haniel) to the Secretary of State [Translation] GERMAN EMBASSY, Newport, Rhode Island, July 31, 1914. MR. SECRETARY OF STATE: By order of the Imperial Government I pray the American Government to assume the protection of our interests in the event of warlike complications with Russia or other states and kindly to instruct American diplomatic and consular officers accordingly in the states above referred to. I should be under special obligation for the earliest possible answer to be addressed to the Imperial Embassy at Washington. Accept [etc.] File No. 701.6261/6 HANIEL The Chargé d'Affaires in Russia (Wilson) to the Secretary of State [Telegram] AMERICAN EMBASSY, St. Petersburg, August 5, 1914, 5 a. m. Unconfirmed report having spread that Russian Embassy, Berlin, had been destroyed by mob, large crowd attacked and completely 1 Repeated to the Ambassadors in Russia, France, Great Britain, and AustriaHungary. Telegrams from the Chargé d'Affaires in Russia, August 2, 1914, 12 midnight; August 3, 3 p. m., containing brief reports with reference to the taking over of representation of German interests in Russia, printed ante, pp. 34, 37. wrecked German Embassy here. After it was dispersed the drago man Kattnerladen apparently murdered, rest of staff safe. Safes with ciphers, money, and some archives saved but everything else completely destroyed though building itself stands. At first signs of disorder I demanded proper protection from the [Minister] of Foreign Affairs and continued to do so at intervals as matters grew worse. This was promised in each case. By the general opinion of unostentatious [unprejudiced] witnesses, the protection was absolutely inadequate and, such as it was, made the most feeble attempts to prevent outrage. Finally Minister of Interior arrived with sufficient force to disperse mob after all damage done. I went to Foreign Office 2 [o'clock], morning, unable to see Minister but registered protest, and have requested audience when I shall officially protest and demand adequate protection for German subjects as I now consider their situation precarious. WILSON File No. 701.6261/7 The Chargé d'Affaires in Russia (Wilson) to the Secretary of State [Telegram] AMERICAN EMBASSY, St. Petersburg, August 5, 1914, 10 p. m. [Received August 6, 7 a. m.] Saw Minister for Foreign Affairs regarding wreck German Embassy and murder dragoman, stating I considered Russian authorities fully responsible for criminal negligence; that I reserved to my Government liberty to request formal apology and complete satisfaction and reparation for loss of life and property. I demanded precautions be taken to prevent repetition, as I did not consider German life or property adequately protected and that I felt sure that same thing would happen Austrian Embassy after departure of staff. Minister expressed regrets and did not try to evade responsibility of Government. He mentioned treatment of Russian Embassy at Berlin and said 132 rioters arrested, would be tried by martial law and severely punished. Intimated that full reparation would be made for loss of German life and property. Hope Department will impress upon Russian Ambassador serious view American Government takes of matter, as I fear repetition with Austrian Embassy. Hopes for Americans getting away towards end of week brighter. Proclamation forbidding all street demonstrations and police ordered to take strictest measures. City seems quiet to-night. Council of Ministers met to decide about Germans; nothing definite but understand that they will generally be allowed to remain in country if they wish. English declaration of war received with greatest relief. Consul at Riga says banks refuse to cash drafts on Department and he fears he will be without funds. WILSON File No. 704.6255/1 The Minister in Belgium (Whitlock) to the Secretary of State [Telegram] AMERICAN LEGATION, Brussels, August 4, 1914. [Received August 5, 9.30 a. m.] Belgian Government this afternoon handed German Minister his passports and he has left for The Hague. Before leaving, not having been able to communicate with Berlin, he asked me as [a] friendly act to take possession of his keys and seal and hold them provisionally until his Government could formally arrange for protection of German interests in Belgium. As stated in my telegram this morning, I had previously informed him of the requests of French and Russian Ministers but time was too short for him to make other arrangements. Accordingly, in view of friendly relations between my Government and Germany, and following implied instructions in your telegram regarding action for France, I consented provisionally to take charge of his keys and seal; but in a purely provisional character act was fully set forth and it was stipulated that, because of lack of authority from my Government, I assumed no responsibility for German Legation's archives or protection of German interests or property, agreeing only to keep keys and seal pending instructions. At the time I advised our Consul to render what provisional aid he could to German Consul who departed with the Minister. However, as under Department's authorization I have already agreed to act for France in case of need, and inasmuch as Russian Minister has asked me to render similar service, and in view of the further fact that, as intimated to me this afternoon, I shall be asked in the same circumstances to assume protection of British interests, I deem it my duty urgently to request Department to arrange through German Ambassador for immediate designation of representative of some other power at Brussels, preferably one without a numerous colony of his own, to assume charge of German interests. My labors on behalf of our colony intensified by presence of American refugees in large numbers; British colony here has thousand or more persons; and with force at my command, laden as I may be with French and Russian interests, task will be extremely difficult. In addition, intense hostility in Belgium to Germans would largely nullify my efforts on behalf of our own and other interests. German Minister fully understood my position and expressed grateful appreciation. Having already shown our friendly disposition to Germany and inasmuch as other ministers here could easily and would gladly assume this responsibility, I ask that action in accordance with my recommendation be taken immediately. WHITLOCK |