Office of the Historian

740.00112 European War 1939/11033c: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Turkey (Steinhardt)

Washington, June 1, 1944—8 p.m.

494. 1. British Embassy here communicated today to Department clarification of its telegram No. 4667 to which reference was made in Department’s 489 of May 31. Foreign Office now concurs in your and your British colleague’s recommendation that notes be exchanged with Turkish Government subject to conditions given in paragraph 2 below. The primary purpose behind London’s view appears to be to keep the Germans guessing, and we appreciate that the exchange of notes may have this effect. Much will depend upon the manner in which the negotiations are handled with the Turkish Government and in particular upon the skillful handling of subsequent publicity.

2. Department herewith accords you authority to sign exchange of notes provided Numan accepts substance of paragraph 3 (c) of your 965, May 27, 6 p.m. It is understood that you will make firm effort to secure addition to paragraph 3 of Numan’s redraft of language given in paragraph 2 of your 965. Finally, it is requested that at signature, or such other time as you deem most appropriate, you emphasize verbally to Numan that while the agreement meets the present circumstances, your Government regards it only as a first installment of the economic assistance which it believes justified in expecting of the Turkish Government and that with altered circumstances, your Government naturally will desire further concessions. Department understands that your British colleague already holds instructions in foregoing sense and consequently no delay will be involved in concerting your actions.

3. As stated in paragraph 1 above, Department believes handling of publicity following signature is extremely important. Please keep Department fully informed regarding any statements made in this connection by Turkish authorities and give us your then recommendations as to course to follow here with particular reference to usefulness of calculated leaks regarding terms of note. Repeated to London.41

Hull
  1. As telegram 4359.↩