Foreign Relations of the United States, 1946, The Near East and Africa, Volume VII

867.51/1–2346: Telegram

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

secret

Ankara, January 23, 1946—3 p.m.
[Received 8:19 p.m.]

98. In conversation with Acting Foreign Minister who is [Minister of] Finance,¹⁸ he asked my personal opinion as to advisability of Turkish Govt instructing Foreign Minister Hasan Saka to discuss with Secretary Byrnes in London¹⁹ question of credit which Turkey is seeking from Eximbank. I replied that I was confident Secretary would not be prepared to discuss this matter in any detail in London but I could see no harm in Saka’s mentioning Turkey’s interest in matter to Secretary if he so desired. I gather Saka will be asked to do this. Sinner said encouraging reports had recently been received from Turkish Ambassador, Washington,²⁰ regarding progress discussions for this credit indicating particularly likelihood obtaining assistance in financing purchases of equipment for Turkish state railways and steamship lines.

Sent Dept as 98; repeated London as 25.

Wilson

18. Nurullah Esat Sümer.
19. Secretary of State Byrnes was in London attending meetings of the United Nations, held January 10—February 14, 1946.
20. Hüseyin Ragip Baydur.