Document 5

Telegram Sent.
Department of State, Washington
April 27, 1915, 7:00 P.M.
Am[erican]embassy, Constantinople.
Russian Ambassador has brought to our attention an appeal made by the Catholicos of
the Armenian Church that this Government use its good offices with the Turkish
Government to prevent the massacre of non-combatant Armenians in Turkish territory.
You will please bring the matter to the attention of the government, urging upon it the
use of effective means for the protection of Armenians from violence at the hands of
those of other religions.

The Russian Ambassador calls attention to the fact that there are many Mussulmans in
Russian territory and that these enjoy immunity from religious persecution.
[William Jennings] Bryan

No. 111.
April 28, 1915 [His Excellency, Mr. George Bakhmetoff, Ambassador of Russia]
Excellency:
In accordance with your oral request of April 27th, asking, on behalf of the Catholicos of
the Armenian Church, that this Government should use its good offices with the Turkish
Government to prevent the massacre of non-combatant Armenians in Turkish territory,
the Department instructed the American Ambassador at Constantinople to bring the
matter to the attention of the Turkish Government, urging upon it the use of effective
means for the protection of the Armenians from violence at the hands of those of other
religions.
The American Ambassador at Constantinople cabled the Department before receiving
the Department's telegram, stating that over one hundred Armenians of the better class
had been arrested, ostensibly to prevent revolutionary propaganda; and that the lives of
these men are probably not in danger, although they are being deported to the interior.
After receiving this message the Department again cabled the Ambassador to urge the
Turkish Government to protect the Armenians.
Accept, Excellency, the renewed assurances of my highest consideration.
W.J. Bryan