811.248/590: Telegram
The Ambassador in Turkey (Steinhardt) to the Secretary of State
[Received 11:22 p.m.]
655. Following telegram has been sent to Cairo.
Your June 14, 5 p.m.,96 received today.
Please thank Major General Maxwell, Colonels Halverson and Craw for me and inform them I do not know of any assistance they could render at this time in connection with negotiations arising out of landing of United States Army planes and crews in Turkey. I am of opinion Colonel Craw’s arrival in Ankara at this time might be harmful rather than helpful as it would tend to magnify the incident which Turks have thus far joined us in minimizing.
In connection with any future flights that may be contemplated please invite Craw’s attention to the fact that “release” of belligerent planes and crews that land in neutral Turkey is not a matter of right but is governed by clearly defined rules of international law on the subject.
- See supra.↩