867.144/27
The Ambassador in Turkey ( MacMurray ) to the Secretary of State
[Received March 19.]
Sir: I have the honor to refer to the Embassy’s despatch No. 1329 of January 15, 1940, reporting the closing of the Y.M.C.A. at Istanbul and of two affiliated organizations, the American Language and Commercial School and the Student Hostel, and to report further developments in the matter, including the reopening on February 6, 1940, of the two affiliated institutions referred to.
As reported in my despatch under reference, the Embassy made inquiries at the Foreign Office on January 13 as to the status of the Y.M.C.A. and the two associated organizations, housed in the same building, which were closed simultaneously. Apparently as a direct result of the Embassy’s inquiries, which were made in such a way as to point out the unfortunate result which the closing of these American organizations might have on public opinion in the United States, a distinct change of attitude toward the question became apparent almost immediately on the part of the officials in Istanbul through whose [Page 995] hands the closing had been effected, and although it was some time before this change of attitude was translated into effective action, assurances were given, within a few days after the Embassy’s inquiries, that the American Language and Commercial School and the attached Student Hostel would be permitted to reopen.
On January 27, 1940, just a month after the Y.M.C.A. building had been closed and sealed, representatives of the Istanbul Police and Vilayet called again and removed seals from some of the rooms, also permitting the sign of the Language and Commercial School to be displayed again at the entrance. The officials showed some hesitancy as to just how liberal they should be in removing seals from rooms which might be considered as connected in some way with the work of the Y.M.C.A. proper. This hesitancy appears to have been at least partially justified, owing to the overlapping of the operations of the Association and the School. Altogether, five successive visits were made by the police and local administrative officials, at intervals of a few days, before the Language and Commercial School was actually in a position, on February 6, 1940, to resume operations.
To all intents and purposes the activities formerly conducted in the building can now be resumed, although work is still somewhat hampered by the fact that two office rooms pertaining chiefly to the School but also containing some Y.M.C.A. records are still sealed, as well as three safes used chiefly by the School. The office of the Y.M.C.A. Secretary, who is now absent, also remains closed. The Director of the Language and Commercial School has been encouraged by the officials who have recently called at the premises to believe that they may within a reasonable time remove the seals from the two closed office rooms pertaining to the School and possibly also from some of the safes, thus leaving an irreducible minimum of sealed premises (one office and one or more safes) to represent the Y.M.C.A., orders for the definite closing of which still remain in effect.
Although the main objective of the local Y.M.C.A. Directors and of the Embassy and the Consulate General has thus been substantially achieved, there remains the question of the final disposition to be made of the Y.M.C.A. property. If the matter is allowed to take its normal course, the liquidation of the Y.M.C.A. as an association which has been officially closed by the Turkish authorities for nonconformity with the Law on Associations will involve some difficulties. It will entail, for example, the opening and examining of the contents of the safes and the inventorying and appraisal of the property of the Association. It is possible, furthermore, that an attempt might be made to claim this property for the Government. In any case, a certain amount of unpleasantness before the affair can be finally disposed of would seem inevitable.
[Page 996]After discussion between the consular officer in charge at Istanbul and Directors of the Y.M.C.A., a suggestion has been formulated, with the approval of the Embassy, for presentation to the Vali of Istanbul with a view to obviating the development of possible further annoyance and difficulties in connection with this matter. The suggestion is, briefly, that the Vali should see to it that the petition presented by the Y.M.C.A. in June, 1939, receives a reply. To date, no reply has been received, excepting in the form of the abrupt closing of the Y.M.C.A. building by the police, which hardly seems appropriate treatment for a reputable institution which has operated in Istanbul for 25 years with the permission, successively, of the Ottoman Government and of the Turkish Republican Government. If the Government’s reply to the petition proves unfavorable, then the Association should be given a reasonable period in which to wind up its affairs in a dignified manner and, as a friendly gesture, all seals should be removed from the premises and property of the Association. A representative of the Embassy made the foregoing suggestion to the Vali of Istanbul in a social conversation with him in Ankara during his recent visit to this city. The Vali replied that he was not sufficiently acquainted with the matter to give a decision on this suggestion, but requested that he be given time to acquaint himself more thoroughly with the problems involved and that the Consul at Istanbul be asked to call on him there to discuss the matter further.
The consular officer in charge at Istanbul has entered into contact with the Vali for this purpose and will, it is expected, call on him within a few days. The result of his interview will be promptly communicated to the Department.
Respectfully yours,