767.68119/378: Telegram
The Special Mission at Lausanne to the Secretary of State
[Received 9:55 p.m.]
205. The representatives of Denmark, Netherlands and Spain have addressed a collective note to the convening powers and have forwarded a copy thereof to the Turkish delegation requesting that a clause be inserted in the ultimate treaty of peace which will permit [Page 955] their countries to adhere to that part of the treaty which deals with the capitulations. The Spanish representative informs us today that Ismet for his part has refused his request, but it is understood that he is prepared to open negotiations immediately for separate conventions with these powers relating to the position of their nationals in Turkey.
As regards the other neutrals we are informed that the Swedish representative abstained from this collective action because he had first approached Ismet individually on the subject and had been told that the Turkish delegation would not favorably consider their adhesion to the treaty. The Norwegian representative abstained on the ground that Norway’s treaty of 1907 with Turkey contains a most-favored-nation clause which Norway considers to be in full effect and does not wish to jeopardize by any action which might imply the contrary. In view of the existence of this comparatively recent treaty Norway considers her position with regard to the capitulations as more favorable than that of any other nation represented at Lausanne. The Belgian representative regards Belgium as an ally and belligerent as in a position differing from that of the neutrals.