1915-12-15-DK-001

1915-12-15-DK-001

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Source: DK/RA-UM/Gruppeordnede sager 1909-1945. 139. D. 1, ”Tyrkiet - Indre Forhold”. Pakke 1, til 31 Dec. 1916
Edition: Danish diplomatic sources
Departure of telegram: 12/15/1915
Arrival of telegram: 01/03/1916
Embassy/consular serial number: Nr. 197
Translated by: Matthias Bjørnlund
Last updated: 03/23/2012

The minister in Constantinople (Carl Ellis Wandel) to the Foreign Minister (Erik Scavenius)

Report

Nr. 197
Constantinople, 15 December 1915.

Confidential.

Mr. Foreign Minister,

On 29 October this year, the Apostolic Delegate here, Monseigneur Dolci [Angelo Maria Dolci], was received in audience by H. M. the Sultan [Mehmed V/5]to whom he handed over a papal holograph letter in which the Holy Father [Benedict XV/15] spoke on behalf of the persecuted Armenians, and yesterday he announced to the Spanish diplomatic minister [Ambassador Julian del Arroyo] that he has now received an answer from the Turkish government to said letter.

However, to my other colleagues, and to everyone who asks him, Monseigneur Dolci says that he has received no answer, and he has only told the truth to the Spanish minister, asking him to keep the matter strictly confidential and secret.

This secretiveness, and the overall way Monseigneur Dolci expresses himself, leads me to assume that the Turkish government's answer has been purely formal, and that it has only contained the obligatory polite phrases and nothing beyond the usual evasive explanations given here concerning the Armenian massacres.

With the highest esteem I remain, Mr. Minister, yours faithfully