767.68119P/57: Telegram
The Special Mission at Lausanne to the Secretary of State
[Received 1:24 p.m.]
444. Your no. 188 of June 19, 3 p.m. As I fully realized that everything possible should be done to meet the situation you described, I had a conversation of an hour and a half yesterday with Ismet in which we discussed the desirability of the Turks making a voluntary statement to us with respect to the protection of minorities. I am afraid that I made no progress. Ismet argued that such a statement would be a one-sided engagement which would legally bind Turkey but would have neither the reciprocal nature of the minority agreements between Turkey and the Balkan States nor the control which the League of Nations would exercise over the minority clauses of the treaty with the Allies. It does not seem possible to convince Ismet that we are not seeking to bind Turkey to more than her present engagements. It does little good to speak of the need for satisfying public opinion in the United States because Ismet always counters by asserting that public opinion in Turkey must be given equal consideration. He constantly referred to the good will, if not open favoritism, shown by Turkey to America and clearly stated that it would make a painful impression at Angora were we to request such a statement concerning minorities. Ismet declares that our delegation has influenced the treaty negotiations with the Allies, especially the clauses concerning minorities, by our statements and active participation in the conference, and that since it is the aim of these clauses to safeguard all minorities, the publication in America of these clauses together with an explanation of our part [Page 1093] in influencing their acceptance should be enough to reassure the American people. Ismet added that it is the intention of Turkey to speak in the future louder by acts than by words.
I am sorry that I can see no prospect of securing this statement unless the Department has some other method of procedure to propose. Mere arguments do no good, and I am hesitant about suggesting more direct means of exerting pressure, for I cannot help feeling that good faith requires that we make no attempt to link our treaty obligations directly to this statement.
If thought best by the Department, I probably could arrange to have the Associated Press send a despatch from Lausanne explaining that the minority clauses in the treaty between Turkey and the Allies have universal applicability and setting forth considerations of any other kind which you might feel would reassure the American people. Unless I receive instructions I will not act along the line suggested.
This telegram is being repeated to Constantinople.