711.672/14: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the High Commissioner at Constantinople (Bristol)
27. Department has found very helpful your 41 of February 15.42 It is essential that the Department be kept fully informed of the [Page 1047] course of the negotiations on the draft treaty of Lausanne, and you are desired, therefore, to continue efforts to obtain means to communicate with Angora by telegraph. Should you fail in attempt, it is suggested that you could get information from Imbrie by sending Barnes to Angora to confer with him.
Department believes that, as matters stand, the moment is not propitious for beginning treaty negotiations with the Turks. Even should a treaty be negotiated it could not be submitted to the Senate for some months, as there will be an adjournment on March 4 until next December, and it is not proposed to call a special session. Since it may seem desirable to resume relations with Turkey as soon as there appears a clear prospect of peace in the Near East, it might be better not to involve the question of ratification with that of the resumption of diplomatic relations.
Some other problems will be presented when diplomatic relations with Turkey are resumed, and their solution might be provided for by a mere exchange of notes until such time as a treaty can be negotiated. The points to be covered in exchange of notes could be: provision for review and equitable adjustment of claims, pledges to apply most-favored-nation principle to American interests, particular guarantees for those interests which the most-favored-nation principle does not adequately protect.
For an understanding of Department’s position regarding present treaty rights, see Department’s 63 of December 22,43 and other telegrams to Lausanne, which the Department presumes you have.
The Department would make no objection to the sending an unofficial Turkish representative to the United States under conditions indicated in Department’s 241 of November 3.44