In 1916 he was appointed by Woodrow Wilson to be the United States Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire in Constantinople. While there he also represented the interests of Great Britain, France, Italy, Russia, and Belgium which were then at war with the Ottomans.
In 1916, he was chosen by Woodrow Wilson to serve as the United States Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire in Constantinople. During his tenure, he also represented the interests of Great Britain, France, Italy, Russia, and Belgium, who were then engaged in conflict with the Ottomans.