767.68119/12–645: Telegram
The Ambassador in Turkey (Wilson) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 7—3:37 a.m.]
1541. In regular monthly press conference held yesterday Prime Minister Saraçoğlu after summarizing this Embassy’s note on subject of Straits stated as follows:
“The best basis for reconciling Turkish security and sovereignty and the present clauses of the Montreux Convention relative to the rights of liberty of passage of war and merchant vessels in times of peace and war should be established at an international conference clearly envisaged by that convention. After the several points of view of the three interested Govts are communicated to and examined [Page 1283] by our Government we will be able to make known our own opinions. We favorably regard in principle the American viewpoint and it goes without saying that it merits being accepted as the basis of discussion in order to study the method of its application at the appropriate time. In any event it is strong desire of our Government to see the United States participate in the future conference and furthermore we consider such participation an essential.”
Prime Minister then gave résumé of British note on Straits without offering any comments.