740.0011 European War 1939/14293: Telegram
The Ambassador in Turkey (MacMurray) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 24—3:40 a.m.]
309. My British colleague to whom I communicated substance of Berlin’s 3218, August 19, tells me that yesterday evening he took up subject (which had already been broadcast) incidentally to a conversation on other subjects with Minister for Foreign Affairs and latter said that Turkish Ambassador had conferred at some headquarters on Russian front, not with Hitler but with Ribbentrop at latter’s invitation, for purpose of what was described as a general and somewhat academic discussion of present European situation. Saraço lu said he had expressed views that Germany was already completely victorious over Russia and that opportunity was open for Turkey to indicate what portion of spoils (presumably Russian Turkestan) she would desire to claim. He stated specifically that Ribbentrop had made no open or clearly implied threats but that Turks were conscious of logical implication that they must share spoils or put themselves into opposition.
- 2.
- In this connection Saraçoğlu volunteered to Hugessen that 3 or 4 weeks ago a certain third party (in Hugessen’s opinion and mine probably Mariassy, retiring Hungarian Minister) had told him that Germany was having easy victory in Russia and that he thought it was now time for Turkey to say whether she was with or against Axis Saraçoğlu had said that until he had had occasion to consider matter officially he could not be expected to give any formal reply but that his off hand personal inclination was to say no to Axis as definitely as he would say no to British if they tried to force him into position of active partisanship. On being asked whether Turkey was sympathetic with new order he replied that he did not know what that meant beyond what Turks could infer from rather unhappy experiences of their Balkan neighbors.
- 3.
- It is possible that this represents beginnings of minatory if not indeed military pressure upon this country. British sources have it that within past few days Germans have put into Bulgaria advance units of two entirely fresh divisions and that Italians have greatly reinforced their military occupation of Aegean Islands. Other less dependable sources state that Germans are sending back considerable forces to Salonika. This Embassy is not in a position to judge probabilities of early German attack through Turkey upon British position in Near East. My own inclination at the moment is to consider that Germans are bluffing in belief that Turks are softer than they [Page 896] really are and can be cajoled or cowed into yielding control of Straits and of Anatolian plateau.
Repeated to Berlin, Moscow.