767.68119/882
The Secretary of State
to the Chargé in Turkey (Shaw)
No. 219
Washington, September 11,
1935.
Sir: Reference is made to the Embassy’s
despatch No. 695 of July 3, 1935 regarding Turkey’s attitude towards
the Straits Convention.
A copy of this despatch was transmitted to the Navy Department with
the suggestion that any observation which that Department might care
to make on the question would be welcomed.
This Department is now in receipt of a communication dated August 17,
1935, from the Navy Department setting forth its views on the
subject. A copy of this communication is enclosed.
It will be noted that in its reply the Navy Department reaffirms its
opinion that the freedom of navigation of the Straits by American
vessels and aircraft can be safeguarded most satisfactorily by a
separate formal agreement with Turkey. However, it would appear from
the Embassy’s recent reports on the subject that the Turkish
Government would be unwilling to conclude such an agreement unless
the United States consented to assume certain responsibilities for
the defense of the Straits, a condition which is obviously
unacceptable.
Under these circumstances, and also in view of the fact that the
situation with reference to the Straits is susceptible of sudden
change in the event that the Turks carry out their avowed intention
of doing away with the demilitarized zones, the Department feels
that this matter might be left in abeyance until such time as a more
favorable opportunity for negotiation presents itself.
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It would be helpful if the Embassy would continue to follow closely
developments in this matter, in which connection the Department
would welcome any suggestions which the Embassy may be in a position
to make at any time.
An acknowledgment of this instruction is requested.
Very truly yours,
For the Secretary of State:
R. Walton Moore
[Enclosure]
The Assistant Secretary of the Navy
(Roosevelt) to the Secretary of State
Washington, August 17,
1935.
Sir: Acknowledgement is made of State
Department letter of 26 July, file NE 767.68119/878,20 together with its
inclosure, copy of a dispatch dated 3 July from the Embassy at
Istanbul.21 The State Department letter requests
any comments or observations which the Navy Department may care
to make on the question of freedom of navigation of the
Dardanelles Straits by American commercial vessels and aircraft
and war vessels and aircraft.
Careful consideration has been given this question by the Navy
Department. This has included a study of the present position by
the General Board, whose reports on the same subject in 1931
were transmitted to the State Department as representing the
views of the Navy Department at that time.
It is understood that the present situation differs from that
considered in 1931 only in the suggested possibility that Turkey
may determine upon a changed attitude toward the Straits
Convention signed at Lausanne on 24 July 1934 [1923], may resume military occupation of the
demilitarized zones provided for by the Convention, and may
re-arm the Straits for their defense.
In the opinion of the Navy Department the freedom of navigation
of the Straits by American vessels and aircraft can be
safeguarded satisfactorily by separate formal agreement with
Turkey, whether the Straits remain in a demilitarized status or
under armed control by Turkey. This department therefore wishes
to re-affirm its views as communicated to the State Department
by its letter of 13 July 1931.20 These views may be summarized by the
following extracts from the reports of the General Board which
accompanied the letter referred to:
- (a)
- “that in any future treaty between Turkey and the
United States, a provision similar to Article I of the
Straits Convention or
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Article X of the Lausanne Treaty
(between the United States and Turkey)23 without any reference to the
Straits Convention and providing for ‘most favored
nation’ treatment, would be satisfactory”.
- (b)
- “that provision be made by some formal agreement,
treaty or exchange of notes, for the right of vessels
and aircraft, public and private, of the United States
of America to navigate the Straits of the Dardanelles,
the Sea of Marmora, and the Bosphorus on a basis of
equality with similar vessels and aircraft of the most
favored foreign nation; that the United States should
not by any act or undertaking assist to perpetuate the
Straits Commission; that if such a Commission is
continued the United States should not have a
representative on this Commission; and, that we should
insist upon our right to deal directly with the Turkish
government regarding the rules for navigation of the
Straits”.
Respectfully,
