767.68119/1044: Telegram
The Ambassador in Turkey (Steinhardt) to the Secretary of State
[Received 8:05 p.m.]
1530. As the result of representations by the British Embassy and ourselves the Turkish Government has decided to hereafter prohibit [Page 1087] the transit thru the Straits of so-called barges of which the Germans have thus far transited light.
The representations made by the British and ourselves were based on information to the effect that these so-called barges altho giving the outward appearance of being commercial vessels were built solely for military purposes and that on their arrival at Greek ports they discharge military supplies and the crews immediately don German naval uniforms.
The Turkish Government anticipates a vigorous protest from the German Embassy as soon as the prohibition is made effective, particularly as a considerable number of these barges have been constructed by the Germans during the past year in Bulgarian and Rumanian ports.