740.0011 European War 1939/10171
Memorandum by the Chief of the Division of Near Eastern Affairs (Murray) to the Under Secretary of State (Welles)
Mr. Welles: Referring to my attached memorandum of March 2645 and to your reply of March 27,46 regarding the question raised by the Turkish Ambassador as to the applicability of the terms of the Lend-Lease Act to Turkey, I am sure you will be pleased to know that the Turkish Ambassador telephoned me this morning to say that, acting on his own responsibility, he was this day addressing a letter to the President, as suggested by Mr. Davidson of the British Purchasing: Commission in Washington, promising on behalf of his Government that none of the material that might be made, available to Turkey under the provisions of the Lend-Lease Act would be transferred to any, third Power without the consent of the president.
The Ambassador went on to say that in reply to his request for instructions in this matter from his Government he had received a telegram today authorizing him to exercise his own discretion. The Ambassador had accordingly decided to take the action recited above.
I told the Ambassador that I was happy that he had come to this decision and I was sure that you would be likewise. In reply to a further question on my part the Ambassador stated that it would not be necessary in the circumstances to receive from us any specific response to the questions which he asked of me on March 26, as recorded in my memorandum of that date.