740.0011 European War 1939/12196: Telegram
The Ambassador in Turkey (MacMurray) to the Secretary of State
[Received 11:40 p.m.]
197. Your 9260 crossed my Nos. 19561 and 6.62 Meanwhile British Ambassador has shown me copy of his Government’s telegram to Halifax directing him to request you to instruct me to make no effort to dissuade Turks from signing agreement but to support British insistence upon Turks making some public statement clarifying fact that it implies no weakening of Turkish alliance with Britain. Feeling confident that intent of your instructions was that I should give such assistance as possible to British in this diplomatic crisis as it has actually developed I have again felt warranted in varying from letter of your instructions and accordingly in interview with Foreign Minister this noon urged only that he take every possible care to avoid misconception particularly part of American public opinion.
- 2.
- Although he was most emphatic that alliance continues and will continue unimpaired and that full reservation of Turkey’s obligations [Page 859] thereunder is made in proposed pact with Germany he gave me impression of failing to realize adequately necessity of counteracting psychological impression to the contrary, which agreement is likely to produce, and over-timid about making any statement so deliberate and explicit as to risk antagonizing Germans. It appears that as result of Hugessen’s and my own conversation with him best that we can hope is that he will tomorrow morning make a statement in general terms to representatives of British and American press and will be prepared to reply affirmatively to question whether reservation in preamble includes British Alliance and thus leaves it unimpaired.
- 3.
- More detailed report of interview will follow.
- 4.
- Minister is instructing Ambassador to explain Turkish position to you.
Repeated to Bucharest, Moscow.