467.11 W 89/40: Telegram
The High Commissioner at Constantinople (Bristol) to the Secretary of State
[Paraphrase]
Constantinople, December 16, 1923—3
p.m.
[Received 10:30 p.m.]
[Received 10:30 p.m.]
329. Your telegram 227 of December 13.
- 1.
- Adnan Bey accepts following if it meets approval from Angora:
- (a)
- That claims body be designated as a committee.
- (b)
- That it be set up at once after treaty ratifications are exchanged, with one year additional, within which complete dossiers may be presented, or that it be established 6 months after treaty ratifications are exchanged and 6 more months be allowed within which complete dossiers may be submitted.
- (c)
- That provision regarding secrecy be eliminated.
- 2.
- Adnan Bey states that as he has already recommended to Angora that the period for the presentation for claims be extended from 6 to 12 months after ratifications are exchanged, he cannot hope that he will be authorized to have the time still further extended. Adnan adds that a year after the exchange of ratifications should give time enough, as it will necessarily be several months before the exchange of ratifications can be considered. There is a bare possibility that he may consent that the committee receive, within a year after it is set up, evidence concerning claims which shall have been presented within 6 months after its establishment, but which have not been fully documented within that time. I recommend that I be authorized to concede this point in case he remains firm.
- 3.
- Adnan Bey prefers that the arrangement take the form of an agreement signed by both parties. I believe, however, that after the experts meet tomorrow he may agree to have an exchange of notes.
- 4.
- I urgently request instructions.
Bristol