767.68119/8–1246: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Turkey (Wilson)66
589. In your reply to the Turkish inquiry referred to in your 856 Aug 12 (rptd Paris as Ankara’s 39, to Moscow as Ankara’s 81 and to London as Ankara’s 118) you may state as follows:
“The Govt of the United States firmly adheres to the position taken in the note addressed by the American Embassy in Ankara to the Turkish Minister for Foreign Affairs on November 2, 1945. In accordance with that position it cannot agree that the regime of the [Page 844] Straits is a matter of concern only to the Black Sea Powers. Furthermore, the Government of the United States cannot agree to the proposal that Turkey and the Soviet Union organize joint means of defense of the Straits. The Government of the United States believes that the regime for the Straits should be based upon, and administered in accordance with, the purposes and principles of the United Nations, and will insist this course be followed. As indicated in the note of the Embassy under reference, the Government of the United States would be pleased to participate in a conference called for the purpose of revising the Montreux Convention.”
In delivering the reply to the Turkish Government you may state orally that you have been informed that your Government’s reply was formulated only after full consideration had been given to the matter at the highest levels. You may add that your Government is of the opinion that, in view of the extreme delicacy of the situation, it would be appropriate for the Turkish Government in replying to the Soviet Government to assume a reasonable, but firm, attitude. In agreeing to participate in a conference the Turkish Government may wish to make it clear that by such action it does not indicate willingness to agree to the Soviet proposals but merely willingness to discuss with the Soviet Union and other interested governments any specific amendments to the Montreux Convention.
Sent Ankara as Dept’s 589; rptd to Paris for the Secretary Secdel 686 as Depths no. 4147, rptd Moscow as Dept’s no. 1505, rptd London as Dept’s 6090.
- Initialed also by President Truman. Draft of this telegram was sent to the Secretary of State in telegram 4133 (Secdel 677), August 15, 7 p.m., to Paris, with suggestion that he make any comments he wished (740.00119 Council/8–1546).↩