740.0011 EW 1939/31933: Telegram
The Ambassador in Turkey (Steinhardt) to the President, the Secretary of State, and the Under Secretary of State (Stettinius)1
1870. Most secret for the President, the Secretary and the Under Secretary.
In conversation with the Foreign Minister last night he told me that in reply to von Papen’s questions yesterday as to the nature of his talks with Eden he had told him that Eden had given him an account of the Moscow Conference and has assured him that it had been an outstanding success. In reply to a question by von Papen as to whether Eden had requested that Turkey grant air bases to the Allies or that Turkey enter the war, Numan said he had denied that there had been a request for air bases but had admitted that Eden had sought Turkey’s entry into the war. He said he had evaded a direct answer as to the Turk Government’s probable reply by emphasizing Turkey’s present position, unpreparedness and military weakness.
Numan made it clear that the Turk Government must now take into consideration the possibility of preventive action by the Axis as he deems it unlikely that the nature of the deliberations of the Turk Government can be wholly concealed from the Axis.
As an indication that the Germans are already giving consideration to the possibility of Turkey’s entry into the war, was today informed that the German authorities have instructed their commercial representatives in Turkey to cease all purchases of Turk products and to dispatch all goods on hand as quickly as possible. (See also my 1855 November 12, 7 p.m.)2