867.014/12–2945
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Assistant Chief of the Division of Near Eastern Affairs (Jones)8
| Participants: | Mr. Acheson, Acting Secretary |
| Mr. Huseyin Ragip Baydur, Turkish Ambassador | |
| Mr. Jones, NE |
The Turkish Ambassador called on the Acting Secretary by appointment today at 2 p.m.
[Page 1288]The Ambassador stated that he had read in the newspapers that Turkish matters were discussed at the recent meeting of Foreign Ministers in Moscow and that, if possible, he would like to know the results of these conversations.
The Acting Secretary replied that the Secretary had only arrived this morning. He said that he did not know whether the subject of Turkey had been raised in Moscow although he too had seen the press reports. He said that he would put this question to the Secretary at an early opportunity and that the Secretary might wish to see the Ambassador or to send him some word on this point.
The Ambassador referred to the recent Soviet demands for Turkish territory in the Trabzon–Ardahan region and said that he would like to know the Acting Secretary’s views on this question.
The Acting Secretary replied that the people in the Department interested in Turkish affairs, who did not yet have the benefit of the Secretary’s information regarding any talks dealing with Turkey which might have taken place,9 had noted carefully the publication in the Soviet press of the letter dealing with the Trabzon–Ardahan region. He said that the United States is exerting every effort to make UNO an effective instrument to prevent war of any kind and that the smaller nations would only complicate this difficult task if they should give way to resentment or defeatism leading to unilateral action in despair of effective UNO action. The Acting Secretary said that he thought that the Turks would be well advised to remain calm in the present situation and to take measures designed to prevent any incident or manifestation in Turkey at this time—particularly with the meeting of UNO only two weeks away. The Acting Secretary, in concluding, expressed the thought that while the Turks are naturally deeply concerned, the general questions involved extend beyond Turkish territory into the sphere of world peace and security, in which this Government has the deepest interest.
The Turkish Ambassador expressed his thanks to Mr. Acheson, but made the point that it was very difficult for the Turkish people to contain themselves when they were the target of vehement attacks by a disturber of the peace. He said that Turkey had not disturbed the peace: it was the Soviet Union which had directed attacks upon Turkey. He said that surely the defense of the Turkish position in the Turkish press and in the Turkish Parliament could not be interpreted as “aggression” on the part of Turkey.
[Page 1289]The Acting Secretary agreed to this statement.
On taking his leave, the Turkish Ambassador indicated that he would expect to hear further from the Department regarding his inquiry as to what, if any, discussion regarding Turkey took place in Moscow.
- Partial summary sent to Ankara in telegram 1210, December 29, 9 p.m., not printed.↩
- In a memorandum of January 2, 1946, the Director of the Office of Near Eastern and African Affairs (Henderson), informed Mr. Acheson that “… no three-power talks re Turkey took place although Mr. Bevin did discuss: Turkey with the Russians bilaterally with no substantial results.…” A notation on the memorandum by Mr. Jones stated: “Mr. Acheson telephoned news to Turkish Ambassador. L J”. (761.67/1–246)↩