711.672 Straits/35

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

No. 119

Sir: The receipt is acknowledged of your despatch No. 334 of July 20, 1934 regarding the desirability of this Government proposing to the Government of Turkey the negotiation of a treaty by which the United States would obtain on its own behalf liberty of navigation and passage for American ships and aircraft in the Straits of the Dardanelles, the Sea of Marmara and the Bosphorus.

Before authorizing you to discuss this matter formally with the appropriate Turkish authorities, the Department would like to receive your views as to whether the Turkish Government would be willing to negotiate such an agreement at a time when it is presumably giving consideration to the abrogation of the Straits Convention. In this connection the question has arisen as to whether the Turkish Government would be willing at this time to confirm and renew the pertinent provisions of the Convention in question. Any other comments or suggestions which you consider would be helpful to the Department in arriving at a decision in this matter would be appreciated.

Very truly yours,

William Phillips