767.68119/11–1346: Telegram
The Ambassador in Turkey (Wilson) to the Secretary of State 13
[Received 11:58 p.m.]
1188. Secretary General Foreign Office said to me he was not surprised Soviets so far replied only to British on Straits. He thinks possible they will reply to US in couple months, then to Turks later, in other words, matter of tactics to keep question alive.
Erkin said would not be surprised if Soviets seek discussion on Straits with new Turk Ambassador14 when he arrives Moscow (now in Ankara for consultation). Erkin’s guess is Soviets may propose regional agreement of Black Sea powers within framework UN for defense Straits. While such proposal might at first glance seem reasonable, Erkin said it would of course be only mask for real Soviet objective re Turkey. In case such proposal made Turkey’s position would be control and defense Straits of interest to Mediterranean and other powers besides Black Sea powers. In any case Ambassador Akdur instructed if proposals re Straits made he should reserve position and seek instructions.15
- Repeated by the Department as telegram Secdel 1152, November 14, 11 a.m., to New York for the Secretary of State who was attending the Third Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers, which met in New York November 4–December 11.↩
- Fair Akdur, formerly Minister to Bulgaria.↩
- In telegram 1194, November 16, from Ankara, Ambassador Wilson reported that the Turkish press, commenting on the Soviet note to the British, had stated the only way the Straits regime could be modified was by international conference (767.68119/11–1646).↩