611.6731/467: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Turkey (MacMurray)
Washington, December 13, 1938—7
p.m.
34. Your 65, December 11, 4 p.m.57
- 1.
- As stated in our 104, November 14, 6 p.m., numbered paragraph 2, and our 27, November 29, 7 p.m.,57a numbered paragraph 1, you were instructed to offer a reduction in the duty on tobacco if you found it necessary or helpful in obtaining a more satisfactory Schedule I. Since the Turkish authorities place no value on a concession on tobacco you should of course withdraw the offer.
- 2.
- You are authorized to offer Turkey a reduction in the rug duty to 30 cents per square foot, but not less than 45 percent ad valorem with no restriction as to value.
- 3.
- The Committee on Trade Agreements objects strongly to any reduction in the period of delay in article 1 to less than 3 months. In view of the reduction now authorized on rugs, you should request the assent of the Turkish authorities to the 3 months’ period of delay previously authorized.
- 4.
- We assume that “increase of period of delay in article 5 to 2 months” refers to delay in the imposition of quantitative restrictions rather than in the period of notice. This modification is approved.
- 5.
- The Committee on Trade Agreements is very reluctant to agree to the inclusion of the Balkan clause. In any event, it would need to be restricted to named countries. Therefore, if you cannot avoid including a clause relating to Balkan preferences in the draft which you propose to initial on Thursday, you should make it clear to the Turks that it is included on an ad referendum basis, and subject to approval here.
- 6.
- It is not possible for us to conclude the agreement solely in French, and we would greatly prefer that the agreement be made in only two languages, one of them, of course, being English. While we would have no objection to the other language being French, we presume that, inasmuch as the present Treaty of Commerce and Navigation is in English and Turkish, the Turkish Government would prefer those two languages.
Welles