Office of the Historian

867.77/338: Telegram

The Acting Secretary of State to the Commissioner at Berlin (Dresel)

[Paraphrase]
Washington, November 22, 1920—4 p.m.

1868. The following for Consul General Coffin:

Department’s 1486 of October 7, and your 1293 of November 10,14 Moore,15 Meissner,16 Chandler,17 and Robinette18 during a conference at the Department on November 4 received following statement of the Department’s position: The participation of American interests would be viewed with satisfaction by the Department which believes that a diplomatic advantage would probably be gained thereby. But regarded as a business undertaking, participation involves risks and a question of title. Accordingly the Department must decline to take any action which might be taken to imply a guarantee of the soundness of the enterprise or the legal validity of its titles. The Department has under consideration the Tripartite Agreement. It is understood that the interests now contemplating purchase of control of the Anatolian railway would favor British participation. The Department would not object to such an arrangement if American interests obtain control.

Davis
  1. Neither printed.↩
  2. J. B. Moore, counsel for the Standard Oil Co.↩
  3. P. Meissner, representing the Deutsche Bank.↩
  4. P. M. Chandler, of Chandler & Co., Inc.↩
  5. E. B. Robinette, of Chandler & Co., Inc.↩