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  4. Document 892

611.6731/119: Telegram

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

Constantinople, March 24, 1929—11 a.m.
[Received 10:20 p.m.]

17. Department’s 15, March 18, 2 p.m.

1.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs now informs me that in order to convenience the Government of the United States to the greatest possible extent and to allow ample time for the ratification of a brief commercial convention he will be prepared on April 4th, the day before his departure for Geneva, to conclude with us by exchange of notes a new modus vivendi according mutual unconditional most-favored-nation treatment in customs matters for one calendar year from April 10, 1929. A prominent deputy informs me that the Minister recently obtained authorization from the Grand National Assembly for this step, stating that he desired it for the specific purpose of conveniencing the United States.
2.
The Minister proposes that we adopt the identical texts of the notes exchanged on May 19, 1928, with the following modifications: (See text of note in enclosure 1, despatch 320 of May 22, 1928,13 for comparison.)14
(a)
Line two substitute “en attendant la conclusion et la mise en vigueur d’une convention de commerce, mon Gouvernement consent.”
(b)
Line five substitute “pendant un délai de douze mois à partir du 10 Avril, 1929, sera appliqué.”
(c)
Line twelve substitute “du traitement de la nation la plus favorisée.”
(d)
The same modifications would be made in lines 2, 5 and 20 of the text of the note in enclosure 2 same despatch.15
3.
[Paraphrase.] The Minister explains that it is his wish to omit any reference to the Allied commercial convention signed July 24, 1923, at Lausanne, since it is not his wish to accord the treatment which is therein provided to the countries with which he is going to negotiate tariff-rebate treaties. By enjoying most-favored-nation treatment, however, the United States will continue profiting until January, 1930, by the favorable provisions in the Turco-German commercial convention.16
4.
Regarding negotiating a commercial convention, the Minister expressed the view provisionally that its text can contain the several points which the Department mentioned and no other points, but he states his inability to commit himself before he consults his experts.
5.
In view of the Minister’s departure April 5, to be absent for at least one month, it will be impossible to negotiate and sign a commercial convention before April 22. Yet he has committed himself so completely to negotiating a brief most-favored-nation commercial convention, and he has assured me so definitely and repeatedly of the Turkish Government’s firm intention to accord to the United States every commercial privilege which is extended to any other nation that he would not be able now to withdraw from this position without completely breaking faith, no matter what the provisions may be in the proposed new American tariff bill. Besides, the new Turkish tariff law undoubtedly will raise the duties on certain automobile classes and perhaps on other American exports.
6.
With the new Turkish tariff bill still in committee in the Assembly, and with no information obtainable as to either its final form or the likely date of its enactment, I hope, nevertheless, to have a copy in a few days of the provisional text. If so, I shall report any pertinent provisions by telegram. I understand from the Finance Ministry that few American imports are involved in the revised duties.
7.
The German and Italian Ambassadors have both been informed already by the Minister for Foreign Affairs that he has completed his negotiations for a commercial convention with the United States, and this is the general belief in Angora and Constantinople. I do not anticipate, however, and I can probably arrange to avoid, any premature press publicity. The Minister has promised to consider the matter as confidential hereafter.
8.
Telegraphic instructions concerning paragraph 2 are requested. [End paraphrase.]
Grew
  1. Foreign Relations, 1928, vol. iii, p. 953.↩
  2. This was the French text signed by the Turkish Minister for Foreign Affairs.↩
  3. French text signed by the Ambassador in Turkey.↩
  4. Signed at Angora, January 12, 1927; League of Nations Treaty Series, vol. lxxiii, p. 133. Denunciation by Turkey effective as from February 4, 1930; ibid., vol. xcii, p. 402.↩