767.68119F&E/10: Telegram
The Special Mission at Lausanne to the Secretary of State
[Received 10:25 p.m.]
219. At today’s meeting of the third commission72 a draft on reparations proposed by the Allies contains the following proposals regarding uses of future concessions in Turkey by the Ottoman Debt Commission.
“Revenues given as security shall in all cases include the proceeds of concessions existing or to be exploited. The Turkish Government shall consult the Council of the Debt [for their advice] on all contracts pertaining to new concessions or to the extension of concessions to be accorded to Ottoman or any other nationals.”
[Paraphrase.] Prior to the meeting of the commission Child privately made representations that our delegation would enter strong reservations with respect to the principle involved under certain circumstances, one of which would be the failure of the Turkish delegation to protest. As a result of these representations Bompard, speaking on behalf of the Allies and with Garroni’s consent, read the following statement which had been previously shown to us: [End paraphrase.]
“It was far from our intention to infringe in any manner upon the sovereign rights of Turkey which are fully safeguarded by the proposed clauses which in no way provided that Turkey must follow the advice of the debt administration in matters of concessions. Turkey under her own responsibility maintains her complete liberty and the principle of the Open Door continues to remain the one which shall prevail in Turkey in the economic domain.”
[Paraphrase.] By this statement it may be understood that two of the Allies hitherto not committed to the principle of the Open Door now adhere to it.
During the meeting the Turks stated that they absolutely rejected the proposal of the Allies. [End paraphrase.]
- On economic and financial questions.↩