867.24/182: Telegram
The Ambassador in Turkey (MacMurray) to the Secretary of State
[Received 8:19 p.m.]
365. Your 163, September 20. In addition to the promised information as to Lease-Lend material already furnished and under consideration for Turkish Government account I should welcome being advised concerning the system followed in dealing with Turkish requests for such supplies as to which this Embassy has no information beyond certain rather indefinite indications from the British Military Attaché whose office assists the Turkish General Staff in selecting and compiling lists of material needed. My understanding is that these lists are first presented through the Turkish Embassy in Washington to a Joint American-British Advisory Committee (on which the Turks are now represented by an officer and a technician) and upon revision by it are presented to a priorities board by the British on behalf of the Turks. I should like to have this understanding confirmed or corrected, particularly with respect to the questions who presents the requests to the competent agency of our Government and whether the material supplied is earmarked in advance for Turkey. The Turkish officials, including those of the staff, seem to have no idea how this matter is handled; and especially since the arrival of Howitzers and Tomahawk fighters has made them conscious of the reality of American assistance they are approaching the Embassy and the Military Attaché’s office both directly and round about with requests and suggestions of one sort or another. It would be helpful to us, in avoiding confusion on the one hand and on the other an appearance of indifference, if we were in a position to explain clearly the prescribed routine which such requests should follow.
2. Your 163 speaks of your having under consideration arrangements to furnish materials to Turkey directly rather than through British intermediation. If Turkish Embassy has not already been consulted I beg to suggest that I be authorized to make sure from Foreign Office that this Government would not find such arrangements embarrassing as too conspicuously singling it out as actually or potentially resisting Axis aggression at a time when it is making every effort to avoid appearance of provocation.