890D.00/720: Telegram

The Consul General at Beirut (Palmer) to the Secretary of State

Director of Princeton expedition has telephoned from Antioch that Collet, commanding French troops in the Sanjak, informed Campbell at noon today that Turkish Consul General at Antioch had presented this morning formal request from Turkish General Gunduz for Princeton expedition field headquarters as barracks for Turkish troops. Campbell requests that Morey be informed and he [apparent [Page 1038] omission] that the expedition has spent considerable sums in repairing and renovating these headquarters which are the only suitable premises available and the rent of which has been paid in advance to July 1939.

Oriental Institute director reports that he has been authoritatively informed that Turkish troops are expected next week if not before in appreciably larger numbers than originally proposed. Majority of League Commission members and delegates have already left the Sanjak and it is understood that the last are planning to leave Sunday.

Unable to reach High Commissioner today. I should appreciate instructions before I see him tomorrow morning. Shall I invoke article 3 Treaty Series No. 695.44

This telegram is being repeated to the Embassy in Ankara.

Palmer
  1. Convention between the United States and France, signed April 4, 1924, Foreign Relations, 1924, vol. i, p. 741.