811.20 Defense (M) Turkey/835: Telegram
The Chargé in Turkey ( Kelley ) to the Secretary of State
[Received October 18—8:39 a.m.]
1714. Department’s 828, October 13, 7 p.m.
(1) Agreement for delivery of additional 135,000 tons of chrome provided for in Clodius Agreement of October 9, 1941, is now under negotiation between Germans and Turks in consequence of fact Germans have delivered to Turkey entire 18 million Turk pounds of raw material stipulated in schedule I–A of that agreement (see my 1667, October 5)67 it is expected very soon.
I have learned from a reliable source two of chief points under discussion have been price and rate of delivery. Turks have been seeking to obtain a higher price than present one and Germans have been demanding delivery of 10,000 tons of chrome a month, a rate which is far beyond Turkish capacity. It is to be noted Turk chrome production during first 9 months of 1943 amounted to only about 60,000 tons.
(2) British Ambassador has discussed twice with Foreign Minister impending agreement for delivery of 135,000 tons of chrome. He urged on Numan importance of reducing deliveries to Germany to a minimum. Numan stated he was doing all he could, he had already considerably delayed deliveries and he had examined every possibility of putting a brake on deliveries. He said he had even contended to German Ambassador he must preserve some kind of balance in deliveries between Germany and British because British were Turkey’s Allies. In response to Hugessen’s argument Turks should claim until fully 55,000,000 Turk pounds of supplies stipulated in, schedule I–A were delivered no agreement with regard to delivery of 135,000 additional tons should be concluded. Numan said it impossible to take this position as conclusion of agreement depended on delivery of 18,000,000 Turk pounds of war material and not of 55,000,000 of supplies.
Discussion then turned to question of war material to be supplied in return for 135,000 tons of chrome. Hugessen says Numan was unwilling to agree additional war material should be specified and took position 20,000,000 marks of war material delivered under armament [Page 1163] or edit [credit] constituted quid pro quo for 135,000 tons. In concluding conversation Numan reiterated his assurance he would make every effort to slow things up and keep deliveries to lowest possible limit.
(3) British Ambassador feels in matter of chrome we are now entirely dependent on Turk good will and he is convinced (in view of assistance now being given to British on Aegean operation) we can count upon Numan loyally implementing his assurance he will do everything possible to keep deliveries to a minimum.
Ambassador does not believe it is possible to persuade Turks to make supply of 135,000 tons dependent upon supply of additional war material although it would seem to have been intent of Clodius Agreement supply of 135,000 to Germany was contingent (1) upon delivery of entire 18,000,000 pounds of war material stipulated in Clodius Agreement and (2) upon supply of new war material to be agreed upon between two governments. It was agreed I should take this point up with Numan on Monday and if Tie were adamant in regard to requiring Germany to deliver in return for 13,000 [135,000] tons additional war material to be specified in agreement under discussion I should represent to him as strongly as possible great importance to us of his using every means available to reduce and delay chrome deliveries to Germany.
Strictly Confidential and only for Department’s information: I have gathered from my discussions with British Ambassador that in his conversations with Numan relative to 100,000,000 marks armament credit Hugessen acquiesced in Turks tying up delivery of 135,000 tons to war material supplied under that credit. It was considered advantageous to tie up delivery of additional chrome to delivery of 100,000,000 marks of war material rather than to deliver you [new?] amount corresponding to value of chrome, namely, 20,000,000 marks. It was feeling at the time Germany would not be either able or willing to supply entire 100,000,000 marks of war material and consequently amount of chrome she would be entitled to would be less than if she had to supply only 20,000,000 marks of war material.
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