740.0011 European War 1939/10172
Memorandum by the Chief of the Division of Near Eastern Affairs (Murray) to the Under Secretary of State (Welles)
Mr. Welles: During a call from the Turkish Ambassador this morning I conveyed to him in confidence the information contained in your attached strictly confidential memorandum.43
[Page 838]The Ambassador informed me that Mr. Davidson, of the British Purchasing Commission in Washington, had been in touch with him regarding this matter and had requested him to sign at once certain documents which would presumably make available immediately to Turkey the fifty 155-millimeter Howitzers and the 18,500 rounds of ammunition. Among these documents was a letter which the Ambassador was expected to sign and to address to the President, promising on behalf of his Government that none of this material would be transferred to any third power without the consent of the President.
The Ambassador went on to say that since this development was an entirely new one, and since he had no instructions from his Government, he had thought it desirable as a first step to inform his Government thereof and to seek instructions and authority to sign any necessary documents.
The Ambassador added that he had not as yet had time to study the text of the Lease-Lend Act but that lie had had the impression from statements made by the President and others that Turkey might not be in a position at present to qualify under the terms of the act as a recipient of such material. He would of course be happy if Turkey could so qualify but said he felt certain his Government would wish to be assured of this in advance before any requests of a written nature were made.
I told the Ambassador that I would be glad to pass this information along to you and to other competent officials of the Department and that upon receipt of a reply to his inquiry of his Government we would be glad to be of any assistance that might then become necessary.