Office of the Historian

761.67/7–1044

The Department of State to the Soviet Embassy 73

Memorandum

The Government of the United States has taken careful note of the aide-mémoire dated July 10, 1944, in regard to Turkey, which the [Page 886] Embassy of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics has kindly made available. The views of the Soviet Government have been studied with the greatest interest, and this Government is happy to note that they coincide with the views of the American Government as expressed at the Moscow and Tehran Conferences.

In the view of the Government of the United States a request to the Turks to sever immediately diplomatic and economic relations with Germany is only a first step toward active Turkish belligerency, and this Government is so informing the British and Turkish Governments. The Joint Chiefs of Staff consider that in taking this position the United States is not thereby committed to military, naval, or air support of any campaign in the Balkans. This Government does not regard the method adopted, namely, urging the Turkish Government to sever relations with Germany, as a departure from its former position since it expects that such action will be followed by Turkey’s entry into the war, a development which this Government would welcome. It is believed that bringing Turkey into the war in this manner has definite practical advantages which will inure to the benefit of the Allies.

This Government will not, of course, consider Turkey as an Ally until Turkey is in a state of war with Germany. Should Turkey then express a desire to adhere to the Declaration by United Nations,74 this Government, on receiving such a request from Turkey will, of course, seek the views of the Soviet Government before taking action thereon.

Washington , July 22, 1944.
  1. Text transmitted in paraphrase in telegram 1761, July 24, 1 p.m., to the Ambassador in the Soviet Union, along with text in paraphrase of telegram 647, supra, with the instruction that “The above information should enable you to explain clearly the viewpoint of this Government in any conversations which you may have with Soviet officials” (740.0011 European War 1939/7–2344).↩
  2. Signed at Washington, January 1, 1942, Foreign Relations, 1942, vol. i, p. 25.↩