811.20 Defense(M)/3500: Telegram
The Ambassador in Turkey (MacMurray) to the Secretary of State
[Received October 9—7:45 a.m.]
375. Shortly after sending my 374 yesterday I was received by Foreign Minister who in earnest but this time not unamiable mood confirmed general situation reported in that telegram and overwhelmed me with arguments that he was doing just what we wanted Turks to do about chrome; we desired not an infinity of it but enough to satisfy our needs even for a greatly expanded war industry; British and we together were not now taking he maintained as much as Turkey can produce with result that some mines had shut down; we could have that and more if we wanted for duration of British contract; thereafter if we had been interested enough in meanwhile to provide additional transportation facilities there was no reason why production should not be doubled or quadrupled so as to provide our maximum needs in addition to German quota. He brushed aside all question as to feasibility of this. He then went on to claim that Turkey had been confronted with critical situation in which she could not have refused German demand on any ground except open enmity and that a way out had been found by putting off fulfillment of those demands and making it dependent upon conditions which it might well prove impossible for them to meet. He even said that he felt he deserved [Page 961] congratulations for averting this crisis in interests of United States and Britain as well as of Turkey. I then asked him to read informal memorandum quoted in my next preceding telegram.44 He studied it carefully then asked whether it embodied fresh instructions I had received; I said it was my own formulation of my Government’s views as I understood them from a whole series of instructions. He said it raised a wholly novel point in insisting on behalf of United States that no chrome be given to Germany. I said that Secretary had twice emphasized that point in conversation with Turkish Ambassador September 22. He sent for and translated to me Münir Bey’s report of that conversation which I was disappointed to find was rather casual and unprecise and failed to convey any clear idea of matters discussed or of any importance which our Government attaches to them. I read him relevant portions of your 172, September 30,45 and particularly pointed out that Secretary’s comments on repercussions to be expected in event of giving chrome to Germans were not (as Minister suggested) limited to case of giving it during life of British contract. He then turned to passage re lease-lend assistance and rather dramatically implored me to make clear to my Government that Turkey quite definitely expects to be attacked by Germany before next summer; that meanwhile she has no choice but to arm herself (from whatever source available, even Germany) to fullest extent possible in hope of deterring or eventually meeting that attack on best terms possible; and that she relies on her friends of democracies to understand her position and contribute utmost they can to strengthen her as bastion of Middle East. I promised to convey this message whose purport I fully understood and had indeed reported home on various occasions but said that I counted upon his understanding that my Government too has its own interests and problems and viewpoints to consider. I attempted no more detailed argument of points he raised as he gave me to understand that Turkish position (set forth in first paragraph of my next previous) had been finally determined and would be at once communicated to German Trade Delegation (which was in fact waiting in his anteroom) and incorporated without delay in signed agreement, if accepted by Germans.
2. Whereas my British colleague and his advisers are not disposed to take it tragically, feeling that essential point has been gained and that events may be expected to take care of matter of ultimate deliveries of chrome to their enemies, I cannot but feel that common cause has suffered serious defeat in this field, although it may well prove that in upshot Turks will never actually give Germans any chrome. Fact remains that they are now promising 14 months hence to transfer to [Page 962] Germany, from their allies and friends who are arming them against Germany, the very substantial first call upon their output of vital war material. To speak only of matters within my ken, I feel that not only will German propaganda make most in Near and Middle East of such a breach in Turkey’s solidarity with democracies but effect on Turkish morale of this Government’s yielding to first use of pressure in implementation of recent Treaty of Friendship cannot but be one of defeatism and flabbiness of will in meeting any further pressure. I still believe in good will and loyalty of Turks to cause of democracies even though it be result of their conviction that Allied victory is only assurance of their national survival; but this case has shaken my confidence in their capacity to keep their heads in a tight situation …
Repeated to London.