Foreign Relations of the United States, 1947, The Near East and Africa, Volume V

SWNCC Files, Lot 54–D202

Report by the State–War–Navy Coordinating Subcommittee for the Near and Middle East¹

confidential

[Washington, undated]

Letter of Instructions to the Chief of the American Mission for Aid to Turkey

1. You have been duly authorized to direct, under the guidance and instructions of the Secretary of State, United States activities within Turkey in furnishing assistance to Turkey under the Act to Provide for Assistance to Greece and Turkey, approved May 22, 1947, Public Law 75—80th Congress. In the performance of this function, you are authorized to exercise any power or authority conferred upon the Secretary of State by Executive Order No. 9857, dated May 22, 1947, which you deem necessary and proper to the effective carrying out of the provisions of the above Act and of the Agreement with the Government of Turkey setting forth the general terms and conditions under which assistance is to be furnished.

2. You have on behalf of the United States supreme authority in Turkey over all such assistance, both civilian and military. You will act as Chief of the American Mission for Aid to Turkey, the personnel of which will be attached to the United States Embassy in Ankara, and you will direct the performance by the Mission of all activities and functions which you deem necessary and proper to carry out the provisions of the Act of May 22, 1947, and the Agreement with the Government of Turkey. These activities and functions include the following:

a. You will develop, in consultation with the Turkish authorities, programs of American aid to Turkey and will recommend such programs, including the terms and conditions upon which aid is furnished, to the Secretary of State, who will finally determine the programs after consultation with the heads of other interested Government departments. You will also recommend from time to time any changes in the programs which you deem necessary or proper.

b. You will furnish information and other advisory assistance to the Turkish Government in connection with the carrying out of the aid programs and will disburse any funds available for assistance to Turkey which are allotted to the Chief of Mission.

c. You will furnish full information to the peoples of the United States and Turkey, consistent with the security of the two countries, concerning American assistance. This responsibility will include the making of arrangements with the Turkish Government for observation and reporting by the press and radio of the United States, and the preparation of basic material for inclusion in the reports of the President and the Secretary of State to the Congress.

d. You will observe performance by the Turkish Government of its assurances in the Agreement. You will suspend any or all assistance under circumstances in which you deem this to be required by the Act and you will report promptly any such suspension to the Secretary of State for final determination as to whether the Act requires withdrawal. Moreover, you are authorized to suspend any or all assistance and exercise any right of recapture to the extent you deem proper to carry out the objectives of the Mission.

3. You will report and be responsible to the Secretary of State and, at all times keep him fully informed concerning all aspects of the Aid Program.

4. You will observe the use of any other financial, economic or material assistance furnished to Turkey by the United States, either directly or indirectly through international organizations of which the United States is a member, and will advise and make recommendations to the Secretary of State concerning the proper coordination of such assistance arid its coordination with the American aid program. You will also consult with the Turkish Government concerning its requests for and proper utilization of any such assistance.

5. As the representative of the Government of the United States in Turkey on matters relating to assistance furnished under the Aid Agreement, you will maintain such relations and enter into such contracts, arrangements and agreements as are within the scope of your authority and as you deem necessary and proper to the performance of your functions in this capacity.

6. You will maintain close informal contact with the British authorities in Turkey, but shall not, without the approval of the Secretary of State, enter into any formal agreement concerning the relationship of the British military missions in Turkey to the American Mission. You may, however, conclude such operating arrangements and agreements with the British authorities as will facilitate the American aid program, for example, in relation to the procurement of supplies or the use of British facilities, installations, and personnel in Turkey.

7. The personnel of the Mission, including both military and naval personnel, will act at all times under your direction. In their day-today work it is expected that it will be necessary for them to have direct relations with officials of the Turkish Ministries.

8. You will be guided, in carrying out the foregoing instructions, by the following general political, economic and financial considerations:

a. You will act in accordance with such policies as were announced by the President in his message to the Congress on March 12, 1947, and as may be determined from time to time by the President or by the Secretary of State. The basic political objective of United States policy toward Turkey in furnishing aid is to assure the survival of Turkey as a fully independent, democratic nation. As a means to this end, the United States at the request of the Turkish Government will assist Turkey in strengthening the security forces which are required for the protection of her freedom and independence while continuing to maintain the stability of her economy.

b. The policy of the United States with respect to the financial terms upon which assistance is to be furnished to Turkey are set forth in the report of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on the Bill for Assistance to Greece and Turkey, as follows:

“Assistance provided under this Bill for military purposes, being essential to our own security, and not in itself creating the wherewithal to repay, should be made as a clear grant. Financial assistance for current civilian consumption should also be a grant since such assistance would not directly produce capital assets. Repayment could be sought, however, when the direct effect of the financial aid is to create capital assets and the ability on the part of the receiving country to meet such obligations in foreign exchange. However, financial repayment obligations should not be established if there appears to be no reasonable prospect of repayment.”

You are authorized to inform the Turkish Government at your discretion that this is the general policy which will be followed by the United States Government in this respect. You will be responsible for recommending to the Secretary of State any financial repayment obligations that should apply to aid to Turkey, in accordance with this general policy and in accordance with the terms of the Agreement with Turkey. After final determination of the financial repayment obligations by the Secretary of State, you will be instructed to inform, or effect appropriate agreement with, the Turkish Government.

1. Circulated by the State–War–Navy Coordinating Committee as SWNCC 358/2 on June 30, approved by the Committee on July 23.