767.68119/3–2145: Telegram

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

385. ReEmbs 331, March 9. The decision of the Soviet Government to terminate the Soviet-Turk treaty of friendship and neutrality has been accepted philosophically by the Turk Government as the forerunner of the inevitable request for a modification of the Montreux Convention. As under the terms of the treaty notice of termination is required to be given prior to May 7, 1945, it is the impression in Turkish official circles that the notice was given at this time to avoid the exaggerated importance that might otherwise be attached to such [Page 1221] notice were it to be given immediately prior to or at the time of the San Francisco Conference.8

That the Turk Government is prepared to consider proposals for a modification of the Montreux Convention is evidenced by a remark recently made to me by an official of the Foreign Office who said that he did not “blame the Russians for not wanting the Japanese to be concerned with the administration of the Straits”.

Sent to Department repeated to Moscow as 16.

Steinhardt
  1. The United Nations Conference on International Organization held at San Francisco, April 25—June 26, 1945; for documentation regarding this Conference, see vol. i, pp. 1 ff.