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

740.0011 European War 1939/10172

Memorandum by the Under Secretary of State (Welles) to the Chief of the Division of Near Eastern Affairs (Murray)

[Washington,] March 21, 1941.

Mr. Murray: General Burns,³⁶ who is acting for Harry Hopkins during the latter’s absence, called me on the telephone this morning to tell me that the British Government had requested this Government to make available to Turkey under the terms of the Lend-Lease Bill,³⁷ fifty 155-millimeter howitzers and 18,500 rounds of ammunition. General Burns inquired whether we had any objection from the standpoint of policy. I said none whatever—quite the contrary. You may wish to mention this confidentially to the Turkish Ambassador.

36. Maj. Gen. James H. Burns, executive to the Assistant Secretary of War for Air and member of executive committee of the Army and Navy Munitions Board.
37. Approved March 11, 1941; 55 Stat. 31.