740.0011 European War 1939/16637: Telegram
The Ambassador in Turkey (MacMurray) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 14—1:04 p.m.]
424. The British Ambassador informs me that a friendly diplomatic representative (who had asked that his identity should not be disclosed) had quoted his colleague in Washington as reporting that the Under Secretary had told him President Inönü’s reference to Turkey as the possible “source of peace” (my telegram 406, November 1, 6 p.m.9) had created a bad impression in Washington where it was regarded as a warning to the Western Powers that Turkey would not resist an eventual German demand for cooperation.
If the Under Secretary has been correctly quoted I should point out that my original comment on Ismet’s speech (my No. 409, November 3, [Page 926] 6 p.m.10) made no reference to the passage in question since it was not until the development reported in my telegram No. 422, November 11, 7 p.m.,11 that there seemed to be occasion to comment upon a passage which I consider quite materialist [immaterial?] and without concrete significance.
- Not printed; it reported the speech by the President of Turkey at the opening of the Grand National Assembly (867.00/3115).↩
- Not printed.↩
- Not printed; it reported German propaganda to the effect that the Turkish President was cautiously suggesting a plan for Turkey to propose in the near future negotiations for a compromise peace (740.0011 European War 1939/16518).↩