767.68119/9–2645: Telegram
The Ambassador in Turkey (Wilson) to the Secretary of State
[Received 10:30 p.m.]
1263. I informed Secretary General of Foreign Office in sense of your 939, Sept. 20, 8 p.m. He said his first impression was that there had been an evolution in the thinking of United States Govt regarding this matter. Information furnished by British last July has been to effect that President Truman had proposed international control of Straits. It now appears that United States intends to present proposals for revision of Montreux Convention. Of course he added it is possible that suggestions to be received from State Dept may in fact propose internationalization.
Acikalin went on to say that he was gratified to note two points in connection with information I had given him. First it would appear [Page 1251] that question of Straits was not to be treated in conjunction with question of European inland waterways. Second point was that instead of discussion among the five Foreign Ministers at London it now appears that United States is going to make proposals first to Turkey for revision of Straits Convention notifying Britain and Russia of these proposals. He said that this procedure would be regarded with appreciation by Turk Govt.
To Dept as 1263, repeated to London as 96 and to Moscow as 78.