867.5151/165: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Turkey (MacMurray)
63. Your no. 161, December 19, 5 p.m., and Istanbul’s no. 70, December 20, 8 p.m. The Department is particularly desirous that arrears be liquidated in chronological order at the old rate of 130 piasters, and would not be disposed to object to the Turkish Government’s working out an arrangement with the importers involving an additional premium being levied temporarily on new imports to provide the funds for this purpose. Of course if such arrangement should operate to prejudice American trade, this Government would reserve the right to reconsider the matter in accordance with the provisions of the Trade Agreement.
[Page 892]Incidentally, your no. 161 was marked “section 1”, apparently in error since no other section has been received and the telegram appears conclusive.