867.24/367: Telegram
The Ambassador in Turkey (Steinhardt) to the Secretary of State
[Received 10:40 p.m.]
815. Your 362, July 24. My British colleague and myself had a thorough discussion of Turk wheat situation yesterday. Hugessen had a talk with Saraçoğlu the day before which he reported in his 238 of July 29 to Minister of State with repetition to Washington.
[Page 733]We both believe that 15,000 tons of wheat should be shipped as soon as possible from the United States to Middle East as fill-in cargo. We strongly recommend that this movement be started immediately and if that amount cannot be shipped within 45 to 60 days movement should be continued until 15,000 tons have been shipped from the United States. In making this recommendation we have been influenced by following considerations:
- (1)
- Shortage of wheat in Turkey. While food situation in Turkey will be eased after August 15 with coming in of new harvest possibility of a shortage later on cannot be excluded if Turk expectations as to harvest are not realized. Turk Government is naturally deeply concerned over possibility of a deficiency in country’s food supplies and it is in our interest to see to it that Turkey is not confronted with a food shortage. It should be borne in mind that wheat which is loaded immediately in the United States will not arrive in Turkey for several months.
- (2)
- The extreme shortage of reserve stocks in Middle East. In view of depleted wheat supplies in Middle East and demands which will be made upon MESC in near future in respect to requirements of British forces and countries in that area addition of 15,000 tons of wheat from us to reserve stocks in Middle East will improve wheat situation all around in this area.
- (3)
- Compelling nature of specific request made by Saraçoğlu that tonnage allocated for movement of war materials and other supplies to Turkey be utilized for shipment of wheat. We are convinced that any attempt to disregard this request would cause Turks to view with suspicion entire lend-lease program of aid to Turkey and would have a most unfortunate effect on them because they might well come to feel that lend-lease aid to Turkey was not what they had believed it to be, a genuine endeavor to aid Turkey, but merely a screen for shipment of war material to Middle East with Turks receiving whatever was not needed elsewhere in that area.
British Ambassador is sending a telegram to London along similar lines.