740.00112 European War 1939/10933: Telegram
The Ambassador in Turkey (Steinhardt) to the Secretary of State
[Received 3:06 p.m.]
1009. Department’s 494, June 1. The British Ambassador told me yesterday that he had been informed by his Naval Attaché42 that the Turk authorities had permitted the passage through the Straits from the Black Sea into the Aegean of a number of unarmed German barges without giving adequate consideration to the claims of Admiral Jackson that based on previous experience, these barges on arrival in the Aegean would be armed and used for military purposes. On being advised of the foregoing, Hugessen called on Numan and informed him that he was unwilling to conclude the economic agreement until he received assurances that no additional German barges would be permitted to pass through the Straits. As Numan’s reply was noncommittal, Hugessen requested instructions of London. He received immediate instructions approving position taken by him in his talk with Numan with regard to economic agreement but inquiring as to whether he did not think that in refusing to conclude economic agreement until matter of barges was satisfactorily disposed of, “we may not be cutting off your [our] nose to spite our face” and directing him to present matter of barges to President43 in person immediately. Hugessen is accordingly proceeding tomorrow to Izmir accompanied by Numan to see President.44
- Rear Adm. William L. Jackson.↩
- Ismet Inönü, President of the Turkish Republic.↩
- The British Ambassador’s intervention with the Turkish President resulted in a denouement favorable to the British point of view, after which the Turkish Minister for Foreign Affairs resigned, on June 15 (767.68119/7–844).↩