740.0011 European War 1939/32769a: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Turkey (Steinhardt)
29. The British authorities believe that Turks have gained the impression that only Great Britain is pressing Turkey to enter the war [Page 815] and that a much more lenient attitude is held by the United States. Consequently, the British have requested the Department to authorize you to support the British Ambassador in Ankara fully in this connection, as a means of counteracting the above-mentioned Turkish impression.
The American Government believes that the present war is being fought by the Allies in the interests of all nations large and small and that all peoples have a common interest in the achievement of the victory for which we are fighting. Turkey, as the outstanding nation of the Balkans and Near East, has particularly important interests in the future world which we are fighting to bring about. We believe that Turkey will wish to contribute its part, in a direct military manner, to the achievement of these aims, and the American Government hopes that Turkey’s decision will be to join its forces with those of the United Nations for rapid victory. You are authorized to make clear again to the Turkish authorities this Government’s attitude as indicated above.