767.68119/11–145: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Turkey (Wilson)
1058. For your information the New York Times carried an article datelined London Oct. 29 alleging that the U.S. and British Govts [Page 1269] were seeking a common attitude on the Straits question before taking the matter up with Turkey “in order to meet the Soviet view when bargaining on this problem begins”.
In answer to a question concerning this report at my press conference yesterday I said that the report was incorrect.87 I recalled that at the Berlin Conference, President Truman, Prime Minister Attlee and Marshal Stalin agreed that their Governments would each discuss with Turkey the question of the revision of the Montreux Convention. I said that the American Govt was without information concerning the plans of the British or Soviet Govts in this connection, but that the U.S. was in communication with the Turkish Govt. in the matter.
Sent to Ankara. Repeated to London and Moscow.
- For the Secretary’s press conference statement, October 31, 1945, see Department of State, Verbatim Reports, Press Conferences, vol. xvi (1945) No. 55, p. 6. In a memorandum of November 7, Mr. Henderson noted that the British Foreign Secretary had been disturbed by the leak but had been unable to discover the source. Mr. Bevin did understand the decision of the United States to go ahead with the presentation of its note to Turkey, although the British Government had decided not to make any communication to Turkey for the time being. (767.68119/11–745) Secretary Byrnes at his press conference on November 7 discussed the contents of the November 2 note to the Turkish Government at unusual length; see ibid., No. 56, pp. 1–6.↩