763.72119/9608

The French Ambassador (Jusserand) to the Acting Secretary of State

[Translation]

Mr. Secretary of State: I had the honor orally to inform Your Excellency on the 9th of this month that the work of framing the peace treaty with Turkey had in the conferences at London progressed far enough to make it possible to consider summoning the Turkish delegates at an early date. At the same time I told you that my Government would be happy to know as early as possible whether the Government of the United States, which is taking no part in the conferences in question, intends to desist from interest in Eastern affairs or whether on the contrary, as the President of the Council would prefer, it proposes by taking part in this work to claim its share of influence, action and responsibility in the definitive and general reestablishment of peace.

Acting upon an allusion of yours to the nature of the settlement contemplated, I telegraphed to my Government, which has put me in a position to inform you as follows:

1.—Frontiers of Turkey in Europe: The Enos-Midia or more probably the Chatalja line.

2.—Frontiers of Turkey in Asia: On the North and the West, the Black Sea, the Sea of Marmora, the Mediterranean. On the East, the frontier of the Armenian State. On the South, the course of the Jaihun Irmak (Cilicia), then a line running North of Aintab, Birejik, Urfa, Mardin and Jezireh-Ibn-Omar.

3.—Zone of the Straits: The Turkish Sultan and Government will be maintained at Constantinople, that decision however being contingent upon the execution of the terms of peace and observance of the guarantees therein stipulated in favor of the minorities. No Turkish troops, except the Sultan’s bodyguard, will remain in Constantinople.

[Page 749]

The Allies will continue to reserve the right of military occupation in Turkey-in-Europe and in a zone south of the Straits and of the Sea of Marmora.

An international Commission will be created, with administrative and financial powers, to ensure the freedom of the Straits, which will be guaranteed in time of peace as in time of war. The Commission, which will exercise its powers in the name of and by delegation from the Sultan, will have its own flag and budget, with power to borrow money on its revenues. It will collect taxes on the basis of complete equality between all countries. It will do whatever may be necessary for the improvement of navigation and will be vested with naval police rights. France, England, Italy, and in certain contingencies the United States and Russia, will each have on the Commission one representative with two votes. Rumania, Greece and ultimately Bulgaria will have a representative with one vote. The Chairmanship may be held only by a representative of one of the Great Powers. Several other questions, regarding in particular the passage of warships and the regime of the Straits in time of war are still under advisement. In case the territory of Greece should extend as far as the Sea of Marmora, the Greek shore would be subject to the same regime as the Turkish shore.

4.—The sovereignty of Greece will be established over such part of Thrace as is not left to the Turks. Special guarantees will be granted to the Ottomans in Adrianople. A free port will be set apart for the Bulgarians.

5.—A special arrangement is in preparation affecting the three Great Mediterranean Powers, the purpose of which will be to set aside for each within a definite region a right of preference in the matter of furnishing advice and instructors.

6.—The independence of Armenia, whose financial and military organization will be effected with the assistance of the League of Nations, will be recognized. Special rights over Lazistan will ensure her access to the sea.

Turkey will relinquish all rights to Mesopotamia, Arabia, Palestine, Syria, and all the islands.

7.—Smyrna, with a zone from which Aidin will probably be excluded, will be administered by the Greeks under the Sultan’s suzerainty. The port will be free and a part of it will be specially set aside for the Turks.

8.—In the field of economics many questions have received preliminary examination only or have encountered difficulties which will have to be solved by the Supreme Council. Nevertheless an agreement has been reached on the following points: liquidation of German property in Turkey; maintenance of concessions granted foreigners [Page 750] in territories subject to a change of sovereignty, saving possible revision or cancellation with indemnity; creation of a financial commission having control of all the revenues and expenditures of Turkey; continuance of the administration of the Ottoman Public Debt and of the right of the bondholders of that debt to the guarantees pledged to them; reimbursement of the costs of military occupation restricted to occupied territories which will remain Turkish.

These are, in substance, the points upon which the Powers represented at the London conferences have reached a preliminary understanding.

Be pleased [etc.]

Jusserand