867.24/150: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Turkey (MacMurray)
110. Your no. 168, May 24, 1 p.m. and Department’s no. 108, June 28, 11 a.m.73 The following data, complete through June 13, 1941, regarding American Lend-Lease aid to Turkey are furnished in response to your inquiry, and for the time being, only for your information. Reference is made also to the scepticism regarding the extent of American aid to Turkey expressed by the Foreign Minister and reported in your no. 198, June 18, 10 p.m.
[Page 874]Although no actual materials furnished Turkey under Lend-Lease may have arrived in Turkey as yet, the Turkish Ambassador in Washington will doubtless confirm that Turkey has enjoyed a conspicuously favored position and is the only neutral country outside the Western Hemisphere which has received any direct Lend-Lease aid.
There are at present en route to Turkey 50 Howitzer 155 millimeter guns and ammunition therefor, valued at $1,290,000, which were furnished Turkey by the United States Government under the Lend-Lease Act, without any cost to Turkey. In addition, propelling charges for this ammunition, 200 two-and-one-half ton trucks, 50 tractors for Howitzers, and 1,500 sledge hammers have recently been accorded Turkey without cost under the Act. Valuation of this additional material probably exceeds $500,000. Furthermore, some 35 applications for further Lend-Lease grants to Turkey are now pending, for different classes of material and worth many millions of dollars. These include: 520,000 complete rounds of ammunition for 155 millimeter Howitzers, valued at approximately $15,000,000; 67,000 entrenching tools, 406 heavy duty seven to nine ton trucks, 108 seventy-five millimeter guns, 300 one-half ton trucks, 50 water tank trucks, 7,000 field telephones, about 6,500 miles of heavy field cable, 900 truck and car tires, 1,200 pack saddles with mount and ammunition, et cetera.
Perhaps equally as important as the above, however, are the facilities which have been accorded Turkey to purchase commodities in the United States and export them to Turkey, including airplanes and parts, chemicals, metals, and large amounts of other strategic materials, some of which are ordinarily allowed to go only to countries resisting aggression. Turkey has been classed in an even more favored position than countries in the Western Hemisphere in many respects.
A change in the American Government’s policy towards Turkey would be most keenly felt by Turkey, and the Department would be reluctant to adopt such a change. However, it will be difficult to justify a continuation of the very favored position accorded Turkey without some very clear indication from the Turkish Government, by actions more than public statements, that Turkey firmly intends to resist Axis pressure, by force of arms if necessary, and that Turkey remains loyal to its alliance with Great Britain. The chrome situation offers an excellent opportunity to Turkey to counteract any impression which may have been gained by the American public that Turkey’s fundamental policy has changed. It is important, however, that no intimation be given the Turks that we agree to continue aid to Turkey if the latter cooperates regarding commercial transactions [Page 875] such as the chrome purchases, or that we intend to use the Lend-Lease Act as a bargaining instrument.