740.0011 European War 1939/4776: Telegram
The Ambassador in Turkey (MacMurray) to the Secretary of State
[Received 6:45 p.m.]
127. 1. Upon receiving the repetition of Belgrade’s telegram No. 311 to the Department751 took occasion to check with one of my colleagues who stands in closest relations with the Turks and would be in a position to know if any proposals for a modification of the regime of the Straits had been discussed with the Turkish Government. He confirmed my previous understanding (see my 125, July 16, 5 p.m.) that no such discussions have been or are taking place and that in fact the Turkish and Soviet Governments have remained quite aloof and have not had any but rather formal contacts since the Turkish Foreign Minister was rebuffed in Moscow last October.
2. From other sources, however, I have gathered rather vague intimations (which I have not been able to confirm and which I report with all reserve) that on both sides there is developing a disposition to resume the former intimacy of relationship and that there may even be in the minds of certain Turkish leaders a still inchoate project of serving as intermediary in bringing the Soviet and British Governments to an understanding.
Repeated to Belgrade.
- July 16, 7 p.m., not printed.↩