840.50 Recovery/5–748: Telegram
The Ambassador in Turkey (Wilson) to the Secretary of State
priority
359. Foreign Minister asked me call on him this morning. He said Turkish Ambassador Washington telegraphed few days ago requesting instructions re signing letter intent and negotiating bilateral agreement under ERP (mytels 347, May 2 and 348, May 3).1 Sadak [Page 436] said Cabinet meeting yesterday decided not accept ten million credit and instruct Ambassador not sign letter intent or negotiate agreement. Sadak said reasons for decision twofold. (1) Internal political reasons: entirely apart from his personal position which would be most difficult, government itself would be in impossible situation before National Assembly and would be subject to most serious attacks from opposition and in press (reasons set out mytels under reference). (2) As practical matter Turkey would be unable make effective contribution to European recovery with only ten million credit. Turkey therefore should not by accepting this amount obligate itself to do something which in fact it would be tumble to do. For above reasons government had decided inform Assembly that it preferred decline inadequate credits offered although Turkey would continue cooperate to best of its ability as member of ERP.
Sadak said he was troubled about this matter and would like my personal advice. I told him I thought Turkey would be making serious mistake by pursuing this course. I urged government reconsider its decision, sign letter of intent, and negotiate bilateral agreement while at same time continuing to present all arguments possible to administrator in effort obtain amount of credits which would permit Turkey make effective contribution to European recovery. I said that at worst if after continued efforts obtain improvement in amount credits Turkey was unsuccessful in this, Turkey could still decline to accept credits offered. I urged government refrain from any public declaration at this time of its intention to refuse credits and to strive above all to keep door open for further discussions in Washington proceeding with signature letter of intent and negotiations for bilateral agreement.
Sadak said he would ask Prime Minister to call Cabinet together again tomorrow to reconsider decision in light my suggestions. He will inform me of result and I will report further.
In advising Sadak as above I of course made it clear that I could hold out no assurances of increased credits. In speaking with him as I did I had in mind, apart from effective contribution which Turkey might make to ERP, political considerations re inadvisability action which would inevitably create impression in Turkey and in other countries of serious misunderstanding between US and Turkey.2
- Not printed.↩
- In telegram 363 from Ankara, May 8, 1948, not printed, Ambassador Wilson reported that Foreign Minister Sadak had been authorized, at a special cabinet meeting, to sign a letter of intent and negotiate a bilateral agreement. Sadak noted that while he realized the Administrator could not modify Turkey’s tentative allocation at the present time, Turkey hoped to get increased credits in the near future. Ambassador Wilson noted that he thought “it clear Turks have no present intention utilize proposed 10 millions unless and until this figure is bettered.” (840.50 Recovery/5–848)↩