611.6731/480: Telegram
The Ambassador in Turkey (MacMurray) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 22—12:15 p.m.]
76. Department’s telegram No. 40, December 20, 8 p.m.58
1. The initialed Turkish and English texts of the agreement will be forwarded by courier scheduled to leave Istanbul December 28.
2. Balkan clause in agreement as initialed reads (at the end of sub-paragraph c) “or to the countries of the Balkan Entente namely Greece, Rumania and Yugoslavia”. Turkish authorities are willing to insert only names of the three countries if we so desire. Delegation preferred present wording. Turkish authorities are unwilling to omit clause for reasons stated in numbered paragraph 1 of Embassy’s 66, December 13, 6 p.m.
A 5 cent reduction on tobacco is contained in schedule II. When American delegation proposed the withdrawal of tobacco concessions Turkish delegation stated that since the reduction might work out in a way to benefit Turkey it desired to have it remain in the agreement.
- Not printed.↩