767.68119/647: Telegram
The Special Mission at Lausanne to the Secretary of State
[Received June 27—9:47 a.m.]
465. … The right moment seemed to have arrived to make the full weight of our influence felt against the provisions of the second article in the protocol on concessions. Accordingly I went to see Montagna, who is chairman of the third committee, and afterwards [Page 1026] in turn Pellé, Rumbold, and Ismet, and again I took occasion to explain precisely and forcefully the position of the United States, as defined in telegram 198 of June 25 from the Department.31 It is plain that our view has the entire sympathy of Montagna, so far as the general principle is concerned. But he seems to think that in the matter of compensation for the Samsun-Sivas railway the French have a strong case. I received the clear impression that Pellé would be glad to accept the principle of compensation as a substitute for the clause to which we object. When I pressed Rumbold in argument he took refuge in the vague declaration that their companies must have protection. It seems to me that the British are quite aware that their position is not altogether sound.
In the beginning Ismet seemed to waver somewhat. He found fault with the Allies for complicating the question of the concessionary clauses with other issues, and declared that he would be in a very embarrassing position, if, after all, peace should hinge upon his assenting to the objectionable clause. We discussed the question for 30 minutes, and I expressed to him my own conviction that the problem could be brought to a satisfactory solution if he would take his stand firmly on the principle. He seemed to take comfort from my assurances, and toward the close of our interview he gave me a positive pledge to stand firm. When I enquired whether I had his permission to report his statement to the Department, he gave his consent.
For the sake of keeping our position quite clear and candid I had already told each of the other chief delegates that I intended to confer with Ismet and what I proposed to say to him.
In personal conversations I am making a reservation as regards our position on the other concessionary clauses, and have explained that we must be guided by consideration of their practical applicability.
I learned tonight from Montagna that in one quarter at least my representations had taken effect. There are grounds for supposing that he had Pellé in mind. It is evident that the Allied Governments have notified their respective delegates of the representations made at the Allied capitals by the Department.
There is apparent a mood of optimism here over the general situation and an expectation of an early settlement. It is expected that Pellé will receive additional instructions from his Government tomorrow by which it is generally hoped that the question of the Ottoman debt will arrive at a satisfactory solution. The common opinion is that it will take a week to prepare for the signatures after the three questions still pending have been settled. A notification will be sent to the Russian Government in case it should wish to accede to the [Page 1027] convention of the Straits. The treaty will be signed at Lausanne by Curzon and Garroni but not by Bompard or Barrère for France.
- Not printed; it gave substance of telegram no. 244, June 23, to the Ambassador in France, supra.↩