867.24/169: Telegram
The Ambassador in Turkey (MacMurray) to the Secretary of State
[Received 10:25 p.m.]
312. My British colleague has shown me copy of Foreign Office telegram 4745, August 23, instructing British Embassy in Washington to present to you view that it would be highly advantageous at present juncture in discussions now in progress with Turkish General Staff if I were to be instructed to hint to Turks that they might expect issue of American export licenses to be on more generous scale and state that in matter of priority Turkey would come next after British Empire. On basis of your 141, August 15 (of which I have not yet found opportunity to make such discreet use as you authorized), I expressed doubt whether you would be prepared to entertain favorably a proposal which would seem to contemplate giving Turkey preference not only over American Republics but also over China and Russia. And, having in mind fact that Turkey does not even yet seem to realize extent of windfall with which our assistance is blessing them, I suggested that impression of strong American support which British wish to convey might be adequately achieved by means of some authoritative communication on our own part apprising Turkish authorities of the actually very high priority we are in fact conceding them.
- 2.
- Concretely I venture suggestion that you direct me on behalf
of President to make to Prime Minister (with whom general offer
of American assistance was originally taken up in accordance
with your 14, February 14) oral communication (confirmed by aide-mémoire with unofficial French
translation) along some such lines as following:
“In pursuance of the offer of American assistance communicated to Y[our] E[xcellency] February 18, Government of United States has given particularly favorable consideration to requests of Turkish Government for export licenses for materials purchased by it and has furthermore made available to Turkish Government under terms of Lease-Lend Act materials already totalling very considerable value. In administering supply of materials required for military needs of United States Government itself and for assistance of various nations resisting aggression it has, of course, been necessary to establish system of priorities. I am happy to be able to inform YE, by direction of the President, that being satisfied that Turkey while actually nonbelligerent is nevertheless wholeheartedly in sympathy [Page 897] with cause of democracies and is determined to resist any aggression upon its sovereignty or independence, Government of United States is prepared to accord to Turkey in respect to supply of war materials same priority which it gives to American Republics associated with it in defense of Western Hemisphere, YE [the?] priority next after that accorded to nations actually resisting aggression.”
- 3.
- I have discussed this matter with my British colleague who is telegraphing his Government with knowledge of contents of this telegram.