751.67/273: Telegram
The Chargé in Germany (Kirk) to the Secretary of State
[Received June 24—11:30 a.m.]
564. My 378, May 16, 7 p.m.20 Editorial comment accompanying the announcement this morning of the French-Turkish treaty signed at Ankara yesterday reveals again the irritation evoked here by Turkey’s enrollment in the ranks of Germany’s “encirclers” first given pointed expression by the press upon the conclusion of the Anglo-Turkish agreement. The return to Turkey by France of the Sanjak is interpreted as being in reality a deal engineered by London in order to add Turkey to the encirclement front for which Great Britain induced its French partner to stand the costs thus providing an interesting nuance in the traditional British policy of persuading other powers to pull England’s chestnuts out of the fire. France’s submission to this maneuver which can only be explained by the perversion of French political mentality today is said to have dealt a heavy blow to French prestige throughout the Arab world. The papers accord [Page 846] wholehearted support to the charges which the Italian press is reported to be making to the effect that the cession of the Sanjak by France constitutes a breach of the obligations undertaken by France as a mandatory power and that in instigating the return of this territory to Turkey Great Britain has clearly violated the 1938 Anglo-Italian agreement21 in accordance with which the contracting parties agreed to take no action changing the status quo in the Mediterranean and Red Sea.