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The American Ambassador in Turkey (Wilson) to the Turkish Minister for Foreign Affairs (Saka)33
Excellency: During a recent conversation, I had the honor to advise Your Excellency that my Government was preparing a draft agreement for the purpose of settling lend-lease and financial claims of our respective Governments each against the other arising out of World War II.34 I have now received this proposed agreement, which I take pleasure in submitting to Your Excellency herewith for the consideration of the Turkish Government.
As Your Excellency is aware, very substantial quantities of lend-lease supplies were furnished to Turkey by my Government under the Act of March 11, 1941. However, under the proposed agreement, no payment is being requested for lend-lease combat supplies and equipment valued at many millions of dollars, and representing approximately 90 per cent of all lend-lease supplies received by the Government of Turkey. The cash payment is requested for only a limited number of categories of lend-lease supplies, mainly civilian in type, which have a substantial postwar utility to the Turkish economy, and which represent only a portion of civilian type supplies furnished to the Government of Turkey under the Act of March 11, 1941.
The desire of the Government of the United States, as I am sure Your Excellency will recognize in examining the proposed agreement, is to make complete and final settlement of all financial claims arising out of World War II. My Government attaches importance to the early settlement of such claims, and it has proposed terms which it considers reasonable to the Turkish Government. I am hopeful, therefore, that this proposed agreement which I am now presenting may commend itself to the favorable consideration of Your Excellency’s Government.
I am happy to take this occasion to renew to Your Excellency the assurances of my highest consideration.