711.672/225a: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the High Commissioner at Constantinople (Bristol)
223. 1. Congress has assembled and questions relating to the treaty with Turkey may soon be raised. It is therefore important that the Department be informed as soon as possible with respect to your progress regarding the settlement of claims and likewise concerning the prospect of obtaining an agreement on the subject of naturalization.
2. It scarcely needs to be emphasized that the consideration of the treaty by the Senate would be materially influenced by the settlement of these issues. Also the Department does not now intend to send the treaty to the Senate before a decision on the claims question has been reached, as you have been informed already.
3. Possibly the Turks do not realize how serious the present situation is with respect to American-Turkish relations. You should not lose any opportunity to make this clear if they do not realize it. In certain quarters here there is a strong demand that we refuse to deal at all with the Turks, regardless of the effect such a policy would have upon our existing interests in Turkey. The Department is hesitant to believe that the present authorities in Turkey would wish to take the responsibility of forcing us to follow such a course. You will appreciate that it will create a most difficult situation if agreements are not reached which will allow the sending of the treaty to the Senate, especially in case no solution is reached by the time the treaty between the Turks and the Allies is ratified.
4. Please send complete report promptly on the above.
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