Office of the Historian

667.113/4: Telegram

The High Commissioner in Turkey (Bristol) to the Secretary of State

Constantinople, January 19, 1926—5 p.m.
[Received 9:43 p.m.]

4. Department’s 1, January 9. I am informed by Minister of Foreign Affairs that law published January 2nd was not intended to apply to the United States, inasmuch as an understanding had been reached between the two Governments at Lausanne and subsequent. Following are the more important points being made in reply to my note of January 5th, which I should receive in a few days.

1.
Pending ratifications of commercial treaties convention already concluded Turkish Government extends benefits of Lausanne treaties (Allied) to American merchandise.30
2.
However, since the law requires conclusion of provisional commercial agreements pending arrival at treaty understanding, Turkish Government declares itself ready and invites the American Government to make such an arrangement.
3.
Inasmuch as the duration of the provisional arrangement is limited by law to 6 months, the Turkish Government expresses the hope the ratification of treaties will not be unduly delayed. In the case of the United States the Minister for Foreign Affairs explains it would simply represent a written confirmation of the modus vivendi already existing. In order to be authorized to take up this question with the Turkish Government instructions in the premises are requested.
Bristol
  1. The texts of the agreements signed at Lausanne July 24, 1923, were printed in League of Nations Treaty Series, vol. xxviii, pp. 11–223; and Great Britain, Cmd. 1929, Treaty Series No. 16 (1923): Treaty of Peace With Turkey, and Other Instruments Signed at Lausanne on July 24, 1923, etc.↩