711.00 Statement July 16, 1937/51: Telegram
The Chargé in Turkey (Washington) to the Secretary of State
[Received July 29—3:20 p.m.]
35. Referring to Department’s circular telegram dated July 22, 6 p.m., I delivered the message on Saturday to the Chief of Cabinet of the Minister for Foreign Affairs; the Minister himself received me this afternoon at his hotel in Istanbul. He said that he found himself entirely in accord with the general principles enumerated in the statement of July 16th. He said further that he had discussed it in detail with the President of the Republic and the Prime Minister and was able to affirm that the principles featured in the statement are similar to those frequently advocated by members of the Turkish Government, in which connection he asked me to invite your attention to the three following addresses: that of the Prime Minister before the Assembly on June 14 (transmitted with Embassy’s despatch No. 287 of June 25, 193755), the address of the Minister for Foreign Affairs delivered at Teheran during his recent tour, and his address delivered July 15th at Moscow.
He expressed some uncertainty as to the meaning of the phrase “alliances or entangling commitments” and asked for further explanations of its meaning in this instance.
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