867.20/58
The Chief of the Division of Near Eastern Affairs ( Murray ) to the Turkish Ambassador ( Münir )
My Dear Mr. Ambassador: With reference to our conversation of June 6, 1935, and the memorandum which you left with me on that occasion, regarding the desire of the Turkish General Staff to invite to the Army Air School in Turkey an experienced American General Staff officer capable of giving instruction in air tactics and organization, the Department has been informed by the Chief of Staff of the United States Army that there is, unfortunately, no legal authority for compliance with such a request.
By an Act of Congress in 1926 the President was authorized to detail officers and enlisted men of the United States Army, Navy and Marine Corps to assist the governments of certain Latin-American republics in military and naval matters,32 and recently this authorization was extended to include the Commonwealth of the Philippine Islands only.33 It is regretted that under these circumstances the War Department is unable to make a favorable reply to the invitation of the Turkish General Staff.
I am [etc.]