811.20 Defense(M)/3290: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant) to the Secretary of State
[Received September 20—8:40 p.m.]
4415. Your 3912, September 19, 5 p.m., was taken up immediately with the Department of the Foreign Office which has been handling the London end of the British-Turkish chrome negotiations. Following is present status of negotiations as described by head of the Department: [Page 947] Some 2 months ago the British Ambassador at Ankara was instructed to present a note to the Turkish Government suggesting the renewal of the existing agreement which expires next January and proposing that under the renewed agreement, the British would take over the entire Turkish output. Before the arrival of Clodius at Ankara the Turks had begun to express doubts about agreeing to permit the British under a renewed agreement to take also the proportion of chrome which fell to the French under the old tripartite contract. They have even argued vaguely that they are not legally bound to renew the contract. Since the arrival of Clodius, the Turkish attitude has been increasingly unsatisfactory, although they have never yet stated to the British that they have any intention of allotting the French percentage to Germany.
The British Ambassador has been absent from Ankara at Smyrna during the past week but returns to Ankara on Monday. The discussions have in the interim been carried on by the Counselor of the Embassy and Secretary General of the Foreign Office. The most which the Turks have promised is that they will not sign any agreement with Germany in regard to chrome before the return of the Ambassador and before he has the opportunity to make his Government’s representations. The Foreign Office is therefore cabling today a long telegram of instructions and guidance to the Ambassador which is to be acted upon as soon as he returns to Ankara. In this telegram they lay down their objectives and stress not only the economic but political angle pointing out that they regard Turkish action on this matter as a test of their good faith. According to the Foreign Office the British can demolish any legal argument the Turks may advance that there is no obligation to renew the contract. This telegram has been repeated in full to Washington and will be made available by the British Embassy to the Department.
The Foreign Office is aware of the importance which we attach to the successful conclusion of these negotiations. The officer who discussed the matter this afternoon said that he could state quite frankly that the opinion of all concerned in the Foreign Office is that if the United States desired to take action which would assist the British negotiations in their opinion it would be more effective if representations were made through the Turkish Ambassador at Washington than at Ankara.
In Foreign Office opinion the Turks are playing a slippery game on the chrome question and are merely angling for quick advantage to themselves whether it comes from Germany or elsewhere. It is the Foreign Office’s understanding, however, that Germany is unable to give the Turks the things they immediately require. It would seem [Page 948] therefore that any material advantage which we could offer the Turks along the line set forth in the Department’s telegram might throw the balance the right way. The British would welcome our action.