811.2367/25: Telegram

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

1872. In conversation with the Foreign Minister last night I referred to the fact that some of our internees from the last Ploesti raid were still in Turkey and that there had been seven recent arrivals from one of our planes which had bombed Salonika. Numan suggested I send him a list of “priorities” and promised to release “a dozen at once”. I left with him a previously prepared list of 15 of our internees whose release General Tindall37 desires at the present time. On the release of these 15 aviators only 17 of our 119 internees will remain in Turkey with the probability that their release can be effected in near future.

Please inform General Arnold of the foregoing.

Steinhardt
  1. Brig. Gen. Richard G. Tindall, Military Attaché in Turkey, since June 12, 1943.