711.6712A/15: Telegram
The Ambassador in Turkey (Grew) to the Secretary of State
[Received 8:50 p.m.]
61. Department’s No. 37, April 13, 6 p.m., third paragraph. Minister for Foreign Affairs is fully familiar with the texts of our arbitration and conciliation treaties, and the Department’s move was evidently no surprise to him. He said at once that Turkey would be glad to sign both treaties, making one stipulation; namely, they must both contain either some formula or some qualifying document, for [Page 946] example, a procès-verbal or an exchange of notes which would make it impossible for the United States to invoke at any time either treaty in connection with any question pertaining to the Armenians. The Minister said that this question had been finally discarded at Lausanne from Turkish-American relations and that it must remain permanently eliminated. He thought that it would be a simple matter to find some acceptable formula which would not give offense either to the American public or to the Senate.
I said that the Minister would no doubt wish to communicate his instruction to the Turkish Ambassador at Washington, with whom the Secretary of State would negotiate the treaties. Minister replied that after he had received the proposed texts from the American Government, he would wish to seek my friendly and unofficial advice in regard to finding a provisionally acceptable formula before he should instruct the Turkish Ambassador. I request instructions on the attitude which the Department wishes me to observe should Minister for Foreign Affairs send for me in this connection. It has been made entirely clear to him that the treaties are to be negotiated in Washington and not at Angora.
As far as arbitration treaty is concerned, paragraph (a), article III, treaty of arbitration with France, February 6, 1928, appears to cover fully Turkey’s requirement.