711.672/285: Telegram
The High Commissioner in Turkey (Bristol) to the Secretary of State
[Received 8:30 p.m.]
92. My 81 of April 27, noon, which I assume Department has received, answers your paragraph 1. With reference to your paragraph 2, my feeling is that should the Senate ratify the treaty soon the effect would be to give some added weight, at least, to representations by me concerning treaty rights of Americans. I do not, however, believe that the assistance which might be given this mission, pending ratification by the Turkish Government, by such early ratification on our part, is important enough to lead the Department to send the treaty to the Senate before the Department considers such action to be opportune, in view of the political situation in the United States. In my opinion it is doubtful whether the rise of new incidents, such as those discussed in my telegram no. 81 of April 27, noon, will be at all affected by the ratification of our treaty. If the Senate, however, should ratify the treaty before [adjournment?], I think prompt ratification by the Turkish Assembly would be thus insured when it meets again on November 22, and, in this way, the delay which would result if the treaty were not ratified by the Senate before the opening of the next session in December would be obviated.
Pending the ratification of the treaty there is no plan which I can suggest to protect American interests other than the essentially opportunist and defensive policy being now pursued. However, I urge that the recommendation in my telegram 88 of April 30, 2 p.m.,24 be accepted by the Department and that the Department aid the Turkish Government in securing American advisers.25 …