767.68119/690: Telegram
The Special Mission at Lausanne to the Secretary of State
[Received 7:40 p.m.]
538. At final private meeting which lasted until 1:30 this morning agreement was reached on all outstanding questions. Final meeting[s] of all three committees are to take place at 5 o’clock this afternoon.
Revised text of concessions protocol just received contains none of the features to which we have objected. No reference is made to Turkish Petroleum Company but I am informed that Rumbold reserved the right to make a declaration in the final committee meeting to the effect that England will take charge of the company’s interest.
Ismet objected and said he would reply to any such declaration. I shall be prepared to make appropriate statement if necessary.
[Page 1036]The provisions in draft of protocol reported in my 518, July 10, 1 a.m.38 regarding priority in future concessions are replaced by letters to be addressed to Régie Générale and Vickers-Armstrong Company by Turkish Government. The letter to the Regie which I am told is substantially identical with that to Vickers-Armstrong Company is as follows:
“It is understood that if within five years from the date of the signature of the treaty of peace the Turkish Government should propose in whole or in part to put into effect the construction or assure the exploitation by means of contracts to be made after that date of one or several sections of the Black Sea system by calling on foreign industry or capital, it would inform the Régie Générale and would put it in a position to enter into competition on a footing of complete equality with any other person or company.”
Evacuation question also settled. Allied military and naval forces will evacuate within six weeks of ratification of the treaty by Turkish Government but each of the three Principal Allied Powers will be permitted to retain one cruiser and two destroyers in the Straits until the Straits convention goes into effect, but not later than December 31, 1923. Decision of passage of ships through the Straits is maintained for the same period.