467.11/770: Telegram

The Ambassador in Turkey ( Skinner ) to the Secretary of State

13. Department’s 19, February 10, 2 p.m. Note received from Minister for Foreign Affairs regarding claims as follows:

“My Department took care to stipulate in note of February 819 that Commission, in first phase of procedure, would examine in its ensemble the total list of claims without thorough examination of nationality of claimants and by common accord would propose a lump sum. Only in event that Commission might fail to reach agreement on this point, it would be charged to pronounce definitely upon all cases submitted by the two Governments. My Government considers that in this second phase of the procedure the Commission would pronounce only [Page 912] upon claims of American citizens whose nationality is not contested and who have suffered loss in Turkey.”

As lump sum settlement can be agreed upon without raising nationality question, efforts should be made to agree upon a figure.

Skinner
  1. See telegram No. 4, February 8, 6 p.m., from the Ambassador in Turkey, p. 910.