740.0011 European War 1939/7–2644: Telegram
The Chargé in Turkey (Kelley) to the Secretary of State
[Received July 27—7:48 a.m.]
1374. ReDeptel 647, July 20. I gather from conversations which I have had at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that the Turkish authorities are somewhat disturbed at the reservation contained in the statement of the position of the American Government in the matter of Turkey’s rupture of relations with Germany. Both the Secretary General and the Assistant Secretary General have queried me as to the meaning of the reservation. It is apparently being referred to in the Ministry as “the bad news from America”. From the questions put to me it would appear that the Turkish authorities are concerned over what they consider to be the implication of this reservation, namely, that the American military authorities are opposed to the Allies undertaking any military operations in the Balkans and therefore will not extend any assistance whatsoever, if any operations should be undertaken or a front established in that area. I have to make clear that the reservation meant merely that the American Government’s notification to the Turkish Government that it regarded the action taken by the Turkish Government as only a first step toward active belligerency did not thereby commit the United States to military support of a campaign in the Balkans.