740.00112 European War 1939/10771: Telegram
The Ambassador in Turkey (Steinhardt) to the Secretary of State
[Received May 12—12:57 p.m.]
846. See my 845, May 10. In accordance with our understanding my British colleague called on Foreign Minister today and spoke to him along lines agreed upon. He informed me when he pointed out to Numan that conclusion of new trade agreement with Hungary was incompatible with assurances given by Turkish Government in its note of April 17, in that it provided for shipment of many of the strategic materials listed in British note of April 14; Numan replied he should not take specific commodities and quantities stipulated in agreement “too seriously” since Turkish commodities were to be furnished Hungary only after Turks had placed orders for Hungarian goods and latter had arrived in Turkey. Any such orders would be placed through newly created bureau in Foreign Ministry and would be reduced in the Ministry to what was absolutely essential and could not be obtained from Britain or the United States. Consequently, it remained with Turkish Government to decide whether or not these orders were to be placed. In point of fact, Numan intended to reduce deliveries of strategic materials to Hungary to 60% of 1943 deliveries.
The British Ambassador in reminding him of his promise of a 50% reduction pointed out that what we wanted was a complete stoppage. Numan said he was working to reduce percentage to 50% He insisted that Turkish economic life could not be entirely strangled and that when essential commodities could not be obtained from Britain or United States it would be necessary to rely on Axis deliveries. He observed that British had accepted this principle in case of Spain and Portugal.
In reply to Hugessen’s inquiry as to why he had felt obliged to conclude an agreement with Hungary providing for an exchange of goods to an extent greatly beyond what he intended to effectuate in practice Numan stated that if he notified Hungarians in advance that Turkey would only furnish 50% of the strategic commodities delivered in 1943 the Hungarians would be unwilling to make delivery of certain essential materials required by Turkey.
Hugessen left the discussion open pending a reply from Numan as to whether the Turkish Government is prepared in principle to discontinue [Page 841] all further shipments to the Axis of the strategic materials listed in the British note of April 14. In this connection Numan told Hugessen that he expected to see Von Papen tomorrow and would send for him after he had talked with Von Papen at which time their discussion will presumably be continued.
Hugessen and I are agreed that Numan having thus far had no reaction from the German Government with respect to the discontinuance of the shipment of chrome desires to ascertain the German reaction before continuing his discussions with United States.
In view of the foregoing I am deferring my call on Numan until after he has seen Von Papen.