740.0011 European War/9–744: Telegram
The Ambassador in Turkey (Steinhardt) to the Secretary of State
[Received September 8—10:32 p.m.]
1677. British Ambassador informed me today he had seen the Prime Minister this morning. Saraçoğlu was very much disturbed by recent developments in Bulgaria, particularly the Soviet declaration of war against that country. He expressed his mistrust of Soviet intentions and inquired as to whether the Soviet declaration of war against Bulgaria had been made with approval of the British and American Governments. Hugessen replied he could see no reason for alarm on the part of Turkey as Soviet, British and American long range objectives were the same and particularly as the British and American Governments had been informed of the Soviet intention to declare war on Bulgaria. Hugessen said he had based this latter statement on this morning’s BBC broadcast to the effect that Molotov had informed British and American Ambassadors in Moscow prior to the declaration of war.
He then remarked to Saraçoğlu that if he were in his place he would keep a careful eye on the situation just as should “a person who had a spot on his chest to see if it might develop into measles or something more serious”.
I referred to the rumor now current in Ankara and Istanbul that Turkey would declare war on Germany before September 15 and asked Hugessen whether he considered such action by the Turks to be within the realm of possibility. Hugessen replied that it was inconceivable to him without full prior discussion with the British and American Governments.
Repeated to Moscow and London as No. 47.