View source for Turkish Reply to President Wilson's Peace Note, December 26, 1916

<p align="right"> [[Main_Page | WWI Document Archive ]] > [[1916 Documents]] > [[Official Communications and Speeches Relating to Peace Proposals 1916-1917]] > '''Turkish Reply to President Wilson's Peace Note, December 26, 1916'''</p><hr>

'''Turkish Reply to President Wilson's Peace Note, December 26, 1916<sup>1</sup>'''<br>

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Ambassador Elkus to the Secretary of State<br>

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;[TELEGRAM]<br>

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;AMERICAN EMBASSY,<br>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Constantinople, December 26, 1916.<br>

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;In reply to the President's message communicated to the Sublime<br> 
Porte on the 23d instant, Minister for Foreign Affairs handed me <br>
to-day a note of which the following is a translation : <br>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"MR. AMBASSADOR: In reply to the note which Your Excellency was<br> 
pleased to deliver to me under date of the twenty-third instant, num- <br>
ber 2107, containing certain suggestions of the President of the United <br>
States, I have the honor to communicate to Your Excellency the <br>
following: <br>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"The generous initiative of the President, tending to create bases <br>
for the reestablishment of peace, has been received and taken into con- <br>
sideration by the Imperial Ottoman Government in. the same friendly <br>
obliging ( ?) which manifests itself in the President's communication. <br>
The President indicates the object which he has at heart and leaves <br>
open the choice of that path leading to this object. The Imperial <br>
Government considers a direct exchange of ideas as the most efficacious <br>
means of attaining the desired result. <br>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"In conformity with its declaration of the twelfth of this month, in <br>
which it stretched forth its hand for peace negotiations, the Imperial <br>
Government has the honor of proposing the immediate meeting, in a <br>
neutral country, of delegates of the belligerent powers. <br>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"The Imperial Government is likewise of opinion that the great work<br> 
of preventing future wars can only be commenced after the end of the <br>
present struggle between the nations. When this moment shall have <br>
arrived the Imperial Government will be pleased [to] collaborate with <br>
the United States of America and with the other neutral powers in <br>
this sublime task. <br>

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"(Signed) HALIL.'' <br>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;ELKUS.<br>

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<sup>1</sup>Official print of the Department of State.