867.24/5–245: Telegram
The Chargé in Turkey (Packer) to the Secretary of State
[Received 8:55 p.m.]
594. ReEmbs 542 to Department and 32 to London April 21, noon. After further consideration of the matter, the British Embassy has decided, before presenting the proposed note to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on American Lend-Lease goods supplied to Turkey via British [Page 1307] channels to raise certain questions with the Foreign Office in London and is accordingly telegraphing today substantially as follows (the telegram is being repeated to the British Embassy in Washington):
“Unless we are clear as to the precise meaning of ‘re-transferred’ and ‘deliveries’, I hesitate to give the assurance in the terms suggested. Only 7 ships came direct to Turkey from the United States out of 240 ships carrying Lend-Lease supplies. Others were unloaded in the Middle East where a considerable proportion of the supplies were diverted permanently or temporarily. Consequently, ‘re-transferred’ could relate not only to Lend-Lease supplies originally supplied to the British Government but also to Lend-Lease supplies originally destined for Turkey but which reached Turkey via Middle East irrespective as to whether they may or may not have been used there temporarily before being forwarded.
“Practically all American Lend-Lease supplies arriving in Turkey were handled in Middle East by British and frequently forwarded in British bottoms from Middle East. Freight and handling charges connected therewith, seem to be part of ‘obligations in respect of deliveries’. Is it the intention of the two Governments that they should be regarded as owed directly by the Turkish Government to the United States Government? In these circumstances please instruct whether we should give the assurance as directed.
“The whole question of United States and British proportional financial interests in Lend-Lease supplies to Turkey is raised by the pending proposal to dispose locally of British surplus military stores in Turkey. The British Military Attaché will discuss details with Middle East who may be expected shortly to inform War Office by telegraph.”
Sent to Department repeated to London as 38.
Robert Moore of FEA who has just arrived in Washington from Ankara is familiar with this matter.