867.24/2–845: Telegram
The Ambassador in Turkey (Steinhardt) to the Secretary of State
[Received February 8—12:55 p.m.]
188. Department’s 16428 and 165 of February 5. I doubt that any statement the British might make to the Turks informing them that Turkey’s obligations for deliveries of Lend-Lease articles of United States origin are to the United States and not to Britain would cause the Turk Government to recede from its position that the mutual aid agreement is not to have a retroactive effect particularly as I have repeatedly assured the Prime Minister that Turkey would not be called upon to pay or obligate itself to both the United States and Great Britain for the same material.
I am inclined to the view that any approach by the British to the Turks at this time having to do with our negotiations for the conclusion of a mutual aid agreement will be seized upon by the Turks as a further excuse for not signing the agreement. In this connection I trust the Department will bear in mind the British have not as yet been successful in persuading the Turks to sign substantially the same mutual aid agreement with them.
Rightly or wrongly I am under the impression the British are most anxious our agreement should not be signed before theirs. If my impression is correct Department will appreciate the probable consequence of any approach at this time by the British to the Turks on the subject.
- Same as telegram 901 to London, supra.↩