867.24/378: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Turkey (Steinhardt)

385. Your 815 of July 31, 4 p.m. and your unnumbered of August 5, 6 p.m.62

1.
Department has held continuing discussions on wheat for Turkey with British Embassy and representatives of the British [Page 734] Supply Council who act as liaison for MESC. They reported yesterday that since the receipt of your appeal on behalf of Turkish Prime Minister and as the consequence of Department’s discussions and your communications with MESC, the latter has shipped or made available for shipment to Turkey 12,000 tons of wheat and has railed or is railing to Turkey 3800 tons of barley from Iraq. It is apparent that MESC is giving effect to the important political elements in the situation and realizes that actual shortages of wheat in certain consuming centers of Turkey and these political elements make prompt action necessary.
2.
As you are aware, the general cereal situation in entire Middle East gives grave concern. MESC estimates that minimum cereal imports into that area for combined military and civilian requirements will amount to 350,000 tons between now and June 1943. Furthermore, this estimate makes no allowance for loss by sinkings or possible increase in military requirements. Despite the above, it was proposed in a meeting yesterday with the British that because of the urgent need in Turkey and the time required to ship from America, the additional 15,000 tons of wheat promised the Turks by us be met by MESC out of its early wheat arrivals in the Near East. This would be over and above 15,800 tons of cereals referred to in paragraph 1. This proposal, which was welcomed by the Department, promises the great advantage of providing the Turks with absolute maximum tonnage of wheat which could be stowed as fill-in cargo from this country in next 6 weeks or so. The British are recommending this to London and believe it will be agreed. The Department assumes that the Turks will welcome this arrangement but naturally wishes an expression of your judgment in the matter before accepting the definite offer which it is expected London will make.
3.
The movement of wheat from all loading areas, including the United States, to meet projected demands on MESC for next 10 months will place obvious strain on the restricted tonnage available to serve that area. Furthermore, the shipping shortage is accentuated by heavy movement of nitrates and coal necessary for that area. Consequently, an agreement by MESC to make available additional 15,000 tons out of early arrivals would probably result in nil cargo space being available in next 2 or 3 months for shipment of supplies, including munitions, to Turkey since any space available during that time, including fill-in stowage, will presumably be required to help replenish MESC granary.
4.
In accordance with the Department’s 362 of July 24, 9 p.m., paragraph 3, wheat remains available to the Turks in this country for lifting by any ships they can provide subject only to the conditions noted in the paragraph under reference. In the interest of certainty we should think that the Turkish Government would want [Page 735] to make every effort immediately to secure ships for this purpose and within your discretion urge it to do so.
Hull
  1. Latter not printed.