767.68119/10–1146
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Assistant Chief of the Division of Near Eastern Affairs (Jernegan)
| Participants: | Mr. Francis Lacoste, French Minister |
| Mr. Henderson (NEA) | |
| Mr. Merriam (NE) | |
| Mr. Jernegan (NE) |
Mr. Lacoste called at his request to ask for background information on the current position with regard to the Straits in connection with the Soviet note to Turkey of September 24 and the American note delivered at Moscow on October 9, copy of which latter he had received from the Department on October 10. Mr. Henderson briefly summarized the contents of the Soviet note, pointing out that it was substantially a reiteration of the views expressed in the first Soviet note of August 7. He emphasized that our note had not attempted to discuss the various Soviet charges against Turkish administration of the Straits nor to go into the other specific assertions or arguments made by the Russian Government. We had in mind, he said, only to make clear the American position with respect to the broader questions in which we felt American interest was involved and on which we could properly express an independent view.
Mr. Lacoste asked whether we had been in consultation with the British and the Turks. Mr. Henderson replied that we had had only rather casual, informal consultation with the British and none at all [Page 878] with the Turks. Turkey had asked our advice in the premises, but we had thought it preferable to address such observations as we had direct to the Soviet Government rather than to give secret counsel to Turkey. Accordingly, we had confined ourselves to giving the Turks a copy of our note at the same time that copies were given the other signatories of the Montreux Convention.
Mr. Lacoste asked if we knew what the British would say to the Turks on this subject, and was told that we were not at all sure. Mention was made of the press reports from London on October 10. Quoting a British Foreign Office spokesman to the effect that the British Government did not favor continuation of the exchanges between Turkey and the USSR, Mr. Henderson remarked that we had previously had informal indications from the British that they would advise Turkey not to refuse flatly any further consideration of the Soviet Points 4 and 5, regarding establishment of a régime of the Straits by the Black Sea powers alone and joint defense of the Straits by Russia and Turkey.
In reply to a query as to the nature of the answer Turkey would make to the latest Russian note, Mr. Henderson said that we had no exact information and were not sure that a final decision had been taken in Ankara as yet. He felt certain, however, that the Turks would not and could not accept either Point 4 or Point 5 of the Soviet proposals.
In the course of the conversation Mr. Henderson took occasion to emphasize that the U.S. Government had not given Turkey any advice as to whether or not the Turkish Government should continue to exchange views with the USSR regarding Points 4 and 5. He said we felt that Point 5 in particular so directly involved Turkish sovereignty and integrity that the question of conversations on this subject could only be decided by the Turkish Government itself. We would interpose no objection if the Turks decided to leave the way open for a further Soviet communication on this subject. However, Mr. Henderson personally felt that such exchanges could lead to nothing, since he did not see how Turkey could possibly accede to the Russian proposals on Points 4 and 5. Mr. Lacoste indicated that he felt the same way.