867.24/173
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Assistant Chief of the Division of Near Eastern Affairs (Alling)
Mr. Erol79 opened the conversation by saying that the Ambassador had desired to call on Mr. Murray in connection with the present problem but he had been unable to do so since he had been indisposed for several weeks. Mr. Erol therefore had come at the Ambassador’s direction and desired to seek the assistance of the Department in solving a problem which had arisen in connection with Turkey’s defense measures.
Mr. Erol said that the Turkish Government had been buying various kinds of bombs in the United States and Great Britain, but that for various reasons these supplies were not sufficient and it had therefore decided to endeavor to manufacture at least a portion of its requirements of bombs. The Embassy had been exploring the possibility of purchasing in the United States patents covering incendiary, demolition, mine and flare bombs. It had been found, however, that patents covering all of these bombs were either owned or controlled by the United States Government and that special permission or license was required in order to purchase and export the covering patents. Apparently the Embassy had had this matter under discussion with the British Purchasing Commission, for Mr. Erol stated that that Commission had advised him in confidence to seek the aid of the State Department in obtaining permission to purchase and export the patents. Apparently the British Purchasing Commission had informed Mr. Erol that such an approach would be more likely to succeed than a direct approach either by the Turkish Embassy or the British Purchasing Commission to the War and Navy Departments.
I told Mr. Erol that I had no background regarding such matters, but that I assumed it would of course be necessary to consult the War Department and the Navy Department before any decision could be reached in regard to his present request. He said he assumed that would be the case, but here again he felt that the Turkish Government would be more likely to have its request granted if the approach were made through the State Department. I asked him if he had any more definite information as to the exact patents which were desired, [Page 884] and he answered in the negative. Apparently he merely desired to have the Department take up the matter as a question of principle. I told him that I would bring the matter to the attention of the appropriate officials in the Department and that we would let him know the results as soon as possible.
- Orhan H. Erol, Counselor of the Turkish Embassy.↩