Foreign Relations of the United States Diplomatic Papers, 1941, The British Commonwealth; The Near East and Africa, Volume III

740.0011 European War 1939/7899: Telegram

The Ambassador in Turkey (MacMurray) to the Secretary of State

Ankara, January 24, 1941—5 p.m.
[Received January 25—8:12 a.m.]

17. For the Secretary and Under Secretary only. Both Turkish and British informants assured me that the military consultations reported in my No. 10³ are proceeding very satisfactorily.

I have reason to believe that the Turkish Government has made clear its intention to fight in any of the following eventualities: first, an attack upon its own territory from any quarter; second, a Bulgarian attack on Greece; third, a German advance into Bulgaria; and fourth, an Axis advance threatening seizure of Saloniki. There appears to have been no decision yet reached as to the case of a German advance through Yugoslavia not directly menacing Saloniki.

The Foreign Minister⁴ today reaffirmed to me his confident conviction that Bulgaria will not, at any rate willingly, allow the passage of German [troops?] through her territory.

MacMurray

3. Supra.
4. Sükrü Saraçoğlu.