711.672/308: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the High Commissioner in Turkey (Bristol)
130. Your telegram no. 148 of July 9, 3 p.m. You are authorized in your discretion to visit Angora for the purposes outlined in your telegram under reference.
The representations to be made are left largely to your discretion but the views of the Department on some of the points at issue will be indicated by the following:
- 1.
- The Department in earlier telegrams has already given its views on such questions as the Adamopoulos and McCarthy cases, the closing of the school at Tarsus, and the issues presented in your telegram no. 81 of April 27. Besides what has been said already on these points, you may suggest to Ismet that the influence upon the relations of the United States and Turkey of the accumulation of unsettled issues of this kind cannot fail to be unfortunate and that the way seems open to settle these issues promptly to the mutual satisfaction of the two countries.
- 2.
- …
- 3.
- You may tell Ismet that you will soon take leave of absence and that if when you return you find the same unsatisfactory situation, your Government would not consider itself justified in retaining in Turkey a person of your rank and importance to this Government in other branches of its service. Reluctant as it would be to take such a course, this Government might find it necessary to have a subordinate official temporarily as its representative in Turkey.
- 4.
- In your discretion you may add a personal message from me to Ismet. You may state that it is a matter of personal regret after our association at Lausanne for me to see the unsatisfactory turn which events have taken in Turkey, that pending issues are being followed most closely, and that the attitude of the Turkish Government is making it most difficult to assist in placing our mutual relations on a satisfactory basis although we would welcome any opportunity to do so.
The instructions given above are not mandatory but are to be used in your discretion. In applying them you may be guided by the status when you meet Ismet of the various points at issue which you have outlined in your telegram.
This telegram and your 148 of July 9 are being repeated to London for the information of Secretary Hughes. Considering the short time he will be abroad it is probable that arrangements cannot be made for you to meet him but further instructions will be sent should such a meeting prove possible. It seems important that there should be no undue delay in your visit to Angora. You may, therefore, go at any time after July 24. This will give the Department ample time to give you further instructions before you start if Secretary Hughes should send any telegram from London making this desirable.