767.68119/10–2545: Telegram
The Ambassador in Turkey (Wilson) to the Secretary of State
[Received October 26—7:40 p.m.]
1370. In conversation with Acikalin, former Secretary General of Foreign Office and now appointed Ambassador to London, he said he wondered what was exact significance of Tass communiqué of October 1577 concerning question of Straits. He said, that following receipt of information last month that US intended to submit to Turkey suggestions for revision of Straits Convention, Turk Govt had assumed that US suggestions would be taken as basis for discussion [Page 1260] with Britain and USSR and that discussions among these four powers would lead ultimately to new conference for revision of Montreux Convention. Tass communiqué, however, not only makes clear that Soviet Union is opposed to internationalization of Straits but also indicates that USSR intends to discuss revision of Montreux Convention separately with Turkey and independent of any discussions which Turkey may have with US and Britain. How will it be possible, he asked, to make any progress if Turkey is expected to carry on three separate sets of negotiations? Furthermore, he added, apparent Soviet insistence upon meeting separately and alone with Turkey means that we are in effect back where we were last June.
Sent Department as 1370, repeated Moscow as 88 and London as 113.