611.6731/117: Telegram

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

[Paraphrase]

15. (1) The Department appreciates particularly your tact and skill in initiating the negotiations which were contemplated by its instruction No. 109, December 26, 1928.

(2) The procedure which you outline under point 3 in your despatch No. 676, February 25, 1929, is acceptable to the Department.

(3) You may, therefore, confidentially inform the Turkish Minister for Foreign Affairs that the United States Government is agreeable to negotiations with Turkey in the immediate future for a short and simple commercial treaty providing for the several matters which were covered by the draft note12 sent you as an enclosure in the Department’s No. 109 and probably much in the same language. The consent of the United States for the negotiation of a short and simple commercial treaty is given, of course, on the understanding that it will be possible to obtain, presumably through an exchange of notes with the Turkish Government, a continuation for the period from April 11 to December 31, 1929, of most-favored-nation treatment in customs matters.

The precise manner of conveying the above to the Turkish Minister for Foreign Affairs is entirely left to your discretion.

(4) For your consideration and general guidance, there are set forth the following observations:

(a)
The need for great caution in the present negotiations is suggested by the marked propensity of the Minister for Foreign Affairs to promise more than he is able to deliver;
(b)
It is not desired by the Department to negotiate a treaty which covers anything more than is found in the draft note mentioned. Especially would an attempt at inclusion of a reference to the general treaty relations between the United States and Turkey be unwelcome (in this connection, see your despatch No. 641, January 16, 1929, enclosure 312);
(c)
Premature publicity is to be carefully avoided concerning American willingness to negotiate a commercial treaty with the Turkish Government.

(5) You will shortly be instructed by the Department, probably telegraphically, regarding the exact language and form of the proposed commercial treaty.

(6) On April 15 there will convene an extra session of Congress, primarily to consider farm relief and tariff questions. At present [Page 810] the indications are that a proposed new tariff bill will be presented about April 22. Since in its initial form this bill may provide for higher duties on carpets and figs, thus arousing Turkish resentment, might it not be well to try to have treaty and notes signed prior to April 22?

(7) You will please keep the Department informed fully by telegraph, particularly respecting the progress and pertinent provisions of Turkey’s new tariff law and in due course also the language proposed for the exchange of notes extending until December 31, 1929, the present commercial modus vivendi.

Kellogg
  1. Not printed.
  2. Not printed.