767.68119/429: Telegram
The High Commissioner at Constantinople (Bristol) to the Secretary of State
[Received 8:50 p.m.]
41. On February 6 I left Lausanne for Venice. Out of Venice I encountered Ismet Pasha and others of the Turkish delegation on the Orient Express traveling to Bucharest. During a long and candid conversation which I had with Ismet Pasha at his request, he made it clear that: (1) He really wishes to obtain a settlement with Turkey’s enemies and will not cease to labor for peace after his return to Angora, but is no less resolute to hold out for terms of the National Pact. (2) He expects to stand by partial settlements to which he consented at conference. (3) Before he quitted Lausanne he had given his assent to the Italian proposal for a compromise regarding the administration of justice in Turkey.78 (4) Upon the financial and economic stipulations which he has already rejected, he will not yield. (5) It is his opinion that the National Assembly will confirm settlements agreed to in conference and will promptly consent to resume negotiations for settlement of remaining points in dispute. (6) He regards a settlement with all the Allies at once as better than separate agreements. (7) On assumption that conference is only temporarily interrupted he thinks the armistice of Mudania continued to hold good and that its terms will be punctually observed by the [Page 970] Turks. (8) He was apparently bewildered by actions of the Allies during closing days at Lausanne, and he finds incomprehensible their failure to notify him before the delegates dispersed whether the conference was definitely terminated or only suspended. More than once he asked me, as if puzzled, why the Allies had demanded immediate signature of a draft treaty containing new provisions if they did not wish to disrupt the conference and renew the war. I expressed to him my conviction that peace was the object of all the delegates.
Ismet enquired whether we would be prepared to take up matter of a treaty with his Government. In reply I said that the United States Government wished to defer negotiations until after a peace settlement between Turkey and the Allies, but that if later on he should ask us to discuss the bases of a treaty, our Government would be informed of the request.
With regard to our interests in Turkey I represented that it would be best meanwhile to preserve the status quo. He promised to give my suggestion favorable consideration, as also my request that facilities be given for the American delegate at Angora to communicate freely with the High Commission at Constantinople.
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- See telegram no. 14. Feb. 8, from the Minister in Switzerland, supra.↩