811.20 Defense(M)/3452: Telegram
The Ambassador in Turkey (MacMurray) to the Secretary of State
Ankara, October 3, 1941—6
p.m.
[Received October 4—8:30 a.m.]
[Received October 4—8:30 a.m.]
370. As explained in my 361, September 28, I have felt constrained to avoid Turkish official contacts until in a position to contradict authoritatively somewhat flippant view of American attitude which it seems to take. Generally prevalent impression among Turks and foreign journalists (who have been allowed by very real although unacknowledged censorship to telegraph and broadcast with utmost freedom on this subject of which not a single whisper has appeared in Turkish press) is that we have won on chrome issue as Germany is to get none at present time.
- 2.
- Last night my British colleague told me that he had received from Foreign Minister and Secretary General oral assurance that Turkey would deliver no chrome to Germany now and that their Government regarded existing chrome contract as already renewed in favor of Great Britain for further year (i. e., until January 8, 1943) provided by option, although Minister would not put it in writing at this juncture lest it seem to be a challenge to Germans; and that Von Papen and German trade delegation were staying on awaiting instructions. Reassuring as this was, however, Hugessen coupled it with statement that he had reason to believe there was at least basis of truth in current rumors that Turks had not opposed flat refusal to German demand but (as I had first heard in concrete form from a journalistic source yesterday) had proposed to Germans two alternative formulas for incorporation in trade agreement: (a) that Germany should be free to buy any exportable surplus of Turkish products; or (b) that she should be enabled to buy any chrome which Turkey should be free to sell. (It is to be noted that formulas above outlined reached me orally at second or third hand and through mutations from Turkish probably through French into English so that no inferences can safely be made as to wording which might well prove crucial.) He also told me he had suggested extending contract for 3 or even 5 years but that Minister had said that he could not go beyond one year’s extension in good faith [Page 956] to Germans. That seems clearly to imply that Turks consider themselves so far committed to Germans as not to preclude their getting chrome in 1943.
- 3.
- I am frankly puzzled that my British colleague, although he had at once protested against any such committal, nevertheless seems rather indifferent to that possibility since he assumes course of war will by that time have made question academic. I urged upon him that we cannot safely act on such assumption and that I could not feel my Government would be content to contemplate any possibility that its supply of Turkish chrome might be cut off in January, 1943.
- 4.
- … I frankly confess myself at a loss to recommend course of action in case they should outright give chrome to Germans. It would be a natural and justifiable retort to refuse them any further lease-lend assistance; but I fear that might only defeat purposes which have justified our aid. Yet it would be vital mistake to let them get away with feeling that they can interpret their obligations loosely with no more serious consequences than to make [apparent omission] and myself a bit peevish.
- 5.
- Having indicated some of complications and dangers I nevertheless venture to recommend that Secretary follow up his talk with Münir Bey September 2240 by telling him (and telegraphing me transcript of conversation for use in my discretion) that our Government is not in a position to continue furnishing armament to Turkey unless assured beyond all equivocation that at least so long as war lasts Turkish Government will see to it that United States is in a position either directly or through Britain to obtain for purpose of manufacturing such armaments all chrome that Turkey can produce. I further recommend that Turkish officer associated with British Purchasing Commission be told same thing by highest American official responsible for lease-lend matters in order that he may be in a position to report to General Staff independently of Foreign Office which is perhaps timid in passing on bad news to military authorities.
- 6.
- Although it involves considerations outside my province I venture to suggest that thereafter in consultation with Britain there might be offered to Turks a joint and several obligation to purchase their entire chrome output (if specific figure is desirable say up to 250,000 tons a year) either for 5 years or for duration of war and thereafter until denounced.
Repeat to London.
MacMurray