611.6731/471: Telegram
The Ambassador in Turkey (MacMurray) to the Acting Secretary of State
[Received 8:46 p.m.]
66. From Trade Agreement Delegation. Department’s 33, December 12, 7 p.m.
1. Your numbered paragraph 1. It is proposed to insert words “and to the countries of the Balkan Entente” at the end of sub-paragraph (c) in paragraph (1) of your article 9 (Department’s telegram No. 101, October 31, 1 p.m.).
When informed that the correspondence clause does not appear in provisional commercial agreement recently concluded between the United States and Greece, Turks replied that a conference of Balkan [Page 1099] Entente had decided that all member countries should include this exception in their commercial treaties and that it was the established policy of the Turkish Government to act in accordance with this decision.
2. Your numbered paragraph 2. Inasmuch as complete silence at the time of initialing agreement might well be interpreted as’ indicating a break-down of the negotiations (departure of delegates cannot be kept secret) and since Turkish authorities will probably be unwilling to agree to maintain complete silence (local press is constantly publishing items about the negotiations and inquiring of the Government as to their status) we suggest that the two delegations be permitted to state informally to the press that they have come to an understanding with regard to a draft of an agreement which is being submitted to their governments for approval and that we be permitted to state if inquiry is made that the proposed agreement is not a clearing agreement but along the lines of the trade agreements concluded by the United States with other countries (local press is constantly stating and businessmen generally believe that a clearing agreement is being negotiated, as this is the type of agreement usually concluded by Turkey with foreign countries it is desirable to correct this impression).
3. Turks’ understand that initialing of the text signifies agreement of the negotiators only and that the draft is subject to final approval in Washington. [Trade Agreement Delegation.]