740.0011 European War 1939/7–444: Telegram
The Chargé in Turkey (Kelley) to the Secretary of State
[Received July 6—2:49 a.m.]
2014 [1214?]. In handing me the text of the proposed exchange of notes between Turkey and Great Britain transmitted in my 2013 [1213?], July 4 the Prime Minister said that we have [he had] set forth to Mr. Steinhardt in his conversation with him yesterday afternoon the attitude of the Turk Government in this matter but that he desired to emphasize again that the Turk Government was not making its action dependent upon the fulfillment of any conditions; it was merely requesting the British Government to make certain “promises” which he was certain we would not find unreasonable in the circumstances. The British Government would be the judge of the amount of assistance it could render Turkey in respect to war material and economic aid. He said that the Turk Government was anxious to avoid any delay in taking the action desired by its ally.
The British Ambassador informs me that the Prime Minister when handing him the drafts of the proposed notes emphasized as he did to Ambassador Steinhardt and myself that the Turk Government was not setting up any conditions but merely suggesting certain assurances [Page 875] which the Turk Government considered reasonable in the circumstances. He says he gained the impression from his conversation with the Prime Minister that the Turk Government would be willing to accept any changes which the British Government desired to make in the drafts of the proposed exchange of notes. When Hugessen pointed out for instance that his Government could hardly agree to the participation of Turkey [in?] “the settlement of all international questions” and that the draft would certainly have to be changed to restrict Turkey’s participation to questions affecting Turkey the Prime Minister immediately admitted the reasonableness of such a qualification.
Both the British Ambassador and myself are convinced that the Turk Government is sincerely desirous of giving much greater assistance to Great Britain than Turkey has been giving hitherto and that it is fully prepared to break off all relations with Germany in accordance with the desire expressed by the British Government. We also believe that Turkey is ready to break off relations with Rumania, Bulgaria and Hungary if the British Government so requests.