711.672/93: Telegram
The Special Mission at Lausanne to the Secretary of State
[Received 6:20 p.m.]
441. The following points were discussed yesterday at a meeting with the Turkish experts.
As regards naturalization, it was pointed out by the Turks that Turkish citizens naturalized abroad, even when naturalization has had assent of Turkish Government, are not entitled by law to return to Turkey. In the end, however, the Turkish representatives agreed to accept our naturalization article subject to the express reservation of right to exclude any expatriated Turkish citizens from Turkey. No reference was made to the disabilities with regard to inheritance imposed upon expatriated Turks by the Turkish law. Choice seems to lie between accepting Turkish amendment to our naturalization article as above, or dropping article altogether. Public opinion in the United States may disapprove the Turkish reservation, but for Turks naturalized in the United States it represents definite improvement over present situation. In dealing with claims also the naturalization article should be useful even if it carries the reservation.
The Turks wished to have some indication of the sort of claims we would present. We will discuss this matter at greater length today, and will make use of memoranda on claims filed with the Department.
The Turks suggested negotiating a new treaty on extradition. They seem to have examined our recent extradition treaties and object to our treaty of 1874 as antiquated. In reply we suggested [Page 1091] that, time being short, we adopt our article on extradition for the present but with the understanding that later we will negotiate a new treaty. They have agreed to prepare a draft reproducing the treaty of 1874 with (a) modifications which they deem immediately important and (b) article 18 as proposed.