611.6731/113: Telegram
The Ambassador in Turkey (Grew) to the Secretary of State
[Received October 2—8:55 a.m.]
113. My despatch No. 488, September 12, paragraph regarding the attitude of the Minister for Foreign Affairs.
He has, on his own initiative, broached the question of United States negotiations for a commercial treaty. It is his desire, he informs me, to conduct negotiations in the following order: 1st, United States; 2nd, Italy; 3rd, Great Britain; 4th, Germany; and then the others, with the first two treaties serving as models for the remainder. The new Turkish tariff law he believes will pass the Assembly next month. He states the probability of his being ready early in January to begin negotiations. He seems to have studied the United States position at the Geneva Economic Conference41 and expresses his belief that, since there appears to be a similarity of tariff policies in the two States, an agreement will, therefore, be very easy to effect. In case the Department desires to have a commercial treaty eventually negotiated here, may I respectfully suggest that, if possible, full instructions be sent me before December. Preliminary conversations could then take place when the Minister for Foreign Affairs again broaches the matter following enactment of the new Turkish tariff. Should the Department intend sending a technical expert to take part in the actual negotiations, plenty of time will be available for this after a mutually satisfactory basis has been found for negotiations through the preliminary exchange of views. I anticipate no developments prior to the end of November.
- May 4–23, 1927; see Foreign Relations, 1927, vol. i, pp. 238 ff.↩