Papers relating to the foreign relations of the United States, 1928, Volume III

711.6712A/1: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Turkey ( Grew )

[Paraphrase]

Washington , March 23, 1928—11 a.m.

25. The Department is undertaking to negotiate with most, if not all, countries outside Latin America treaties of arbitration identical in effect with the treaty with France of February 6, 1928,¹ and, where there are no conciliation treaties (the so-called Bryan treaties), treaties of this sort also, based on the treaty with Great Britain of September 15, 1914.² The negotiations for these treaties are taking place in Washington.

The negotiation of a treaty of arbitration and a treaty of conciliation between the United States and Turkey might furnish an effective commencement of treaty relations between the two Governments. These two treaties would be, presumably, more acceptable to the Senate than any other kind of a treaty, and they would give Turkish Government the satisfaction of having formal treaty relations with the United States.

Department would be glad to have you telegraph your personal views for its guidance, particularly with reference to the following points:

1. In your opinion, would proposal to negotiate above-mentioned treaties be well received at present time by Government of Turkey?

2. Would proposal of this sort tend to be of assistance to you in any negotiations which you may have to undertake in the near future for renewal of the modus vivendi of February 17, 1927?³

3. In order to obtain maximum good effect, when and how should proposal be made?

Kellogg

1. Vol. ii, p. 816.
2. Foreign Relations, 1914, p. 304.
3. For texts of notes exchanged on February 17, see ibid., 1927, vol. iii, pp. 794–797.