867.113/30
The Secretary of State to the British Chargé (Chilton)
Sir: I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your note of November 13, 1923, informing me that since the conclusion of peace between Turkey and Greece by the signature of the Treaty of Lausanne, the British Government has been in receipt of applications for licenses to export to Turkey arms and war material generally, and for support in obtaining concessions from the Turkish Government for the erection in Turkey of a plant for the manufacture of munitions. You point out that the whole of Turkey, except European Turkey, lies within the prohibited zone as defined in Article 6 of the Arms Traffic Convention of September 10, 1919, which, although not ratified, you state to be in force, so far as this zone is concerned, by informal agreement between the British, French, Italian, Japanese and Belgian Governments. You indicate the opinion of the British Government that this agreement, in so far as it affects Turkey, would lead to no useful result should the Government of the United States feel itself free to export arms to Turkey or to encourage United States citizens to seek for concessions for their manufacture in that country. You state that the British Government feels justified in hoping that the Government of the United States will do what may be in its power to prevent arms reaching Turkey or being manufactured in Turkey through the action of United States citizens, both on grounds of reciprocity and in pursuance of its policy as set forth in a statement issued to the press on September 27, 1923. In conclusion [Page 742] you request an expression of the views of the Government of the United States for communication to your Government.
With regard to the informal agreement between the British, French, Italian, Japanese and Belgian Governments, to which you refer, it is not entirely clear to what extent such an agreement would be effective in preventing arms from reaching Asiatic Turkey as long as European Turkey is not included within its scope. Further, I should be glad to be informed whether in the view of His Britannic Majesty’s Government this informal agreement has been effective in preventing the shipment of arms to Turkey on the part of the nationals of the governments which you indicate have cooperated in its observance.
However, in view of the policy which was outlined in the statement of September 27, 1923, to which you refer, this Government under existing conditions will decline to sell government war supplies of the character of instruments of destruction to countries in the troubled areas of the Near East, and it will not extend support to its nationals in any effort to promote the manufacture in Turkey or the shipment and sale to Turkey of such supplies. Further, under present conditions this Government would not favor the flotation of a foreign loan in this country of which the proceeds would be utilized for armament.
I may add that I am not informed that United States nationals have been engaged to any appreciable extent in the traffic in arms with Turkey.
Accept [etc.]