611.6731/120: Telegram
The Ambassador in Turkey (Grew) to the Secretary of State
[Received 5:04 a.m.]
22. Department’s 17, March 27, 3 p.m. Referring to paragraph 2, subheading (a), my telegram No. 17, March 24, 11 a.m.
Foreign Office has altered phrase “convention de commerce” to “convention de commerce et de navigation” in the Turkish note and requests that the American note shall read likewise.
[Paraphrase.] At first sight this might appear to be a last-minute maneuver to lead us into negotiating a treaty to replace the 1830 treaty of commerce and navigation.17 In view, however, of the definite and categorical assurances by the Minister for Foreign Affairs to me of his willingness to negotiate only a brief and simple commercial treaty with the United States, it seems more probable, I think, that the proposed alteration merely is for the purpose of conforming to the text of the new Turkish law enacted April 1 by the Assembly to authorize the Turkish Government to conclude new commercial modi vivendi. I expect shortly to see the text of this law and will immediately telegraph its pertinent provisions.18 If the law does refer to “conventions of commerce and of navigation,” in all probability it was worded thus for the purpose of applying to the treaties Turkey is about to negotiate with the signatories of the Lausanne allied commercial treaty. The proposed phrase does not, in any case, seem to involve the United States in any definite commitment regarding the terms of any treaty or treaties ultimately to be negotiated by the United States any more than did our last modus vivendi commit us to ratification of the American Lausanne treaty of August 6, 1923.19
In view of the categorical assurances by the Minister to me (see my 17), it seems to me desirable to accept the alteration and then to [Page 813] proceed to exchanging notes; this allows a whole year for negotiation of the type of treaty which the United States desires and does not jeopardize existing commercial relations because of what well may be a quibbling intended to conform with the new law.
It is the Minister’s present intention to leave Angora on April 7. I am departing for Angora at once tonight and shall arrive there the morning of April 4 in order that I might seek the personal explanations of the Minister. May I request the Department, meanwhile, to instruct me telegraphically direct to Angora. Should the alteration be approved, the exchange of notes probably can take place at once. If approval is not forthcoming, I shall endeavor to hold the Minister for Foreign Affairs to our original understanding, a perfectly clear and definite one. [End paraphrase.]
- Hunter Miller (ed.), Treaties and Other International Acts of the United States of America, vol. 3, p. 541.↩
- Telegram 23, April 3, 1929, noon, not printed.↩
- Foreign Relations, 1923, vol. ii, p. 1153.↩