711.672/173
The Special Mission at Lausanne to the Secretary of State
[Received August 23.]
Dear Mr. Secretary: The Treaty of amity and commerce which we have signed today with the Turkish delegation is far from what I should have wished to have it. It represents a considerably greater number of concessions on our part to meet the Turkish [Page 1149] point of view than concessions on their part to meet ours. Among other concessions we have given up the articles on naturalization and claims, we have failed to obtain the desired modifications in the Judicial Declaration and we have failed to obtain any provision whatever with regard to minorities.
On the other hand, it was we who laid the original draft treaty before the Turks. Had they first submitted their own draft, the principal concessions would doubtless have been on the other side of the column. Our obtaining most favored nation treatment in the establishment articles was perhaps the most important principle gained.
Whatever may be the fate of this treaty in the Senate and however it may disappoint the American people, I feel, and this feeling is shared by every member of our delegation, after careful study of the situation as it existed and has developed, that more favorable terms could not have been obtained at this time and that it is at least open to doubt whether even equally favorable terms could be obtained later.
As regards our tactics during the negotiations, it may well have seemed to the Department that at times we have appeared overimpressed by Ismet’s “last words” and the indications of his early departure from Lausanne. I do not think that our anxiety was unjustified. When the date of the opening of the National Assembly was fixed for August 3rd, there is no doubt that Ismet had planned to be in Angora for that date. We were continually confronted with the possible danger to our interests of allowing him to leave before signature and the disadvantages, fully recognized by the Department, of a postponement of the negotiations. Had we not made the tentative concessions on naturalization, the judicial declaration and the capitulations article when we did, I believe he might and probably would have gone. If our negotiations were to have been a matter of “trading”, it could be held that Ismet had played a subtle and clever game. But we do not and cannot feel that the question of trading entered into these negotiations at all. We can only conjecture how much importance be [he?] attached to signing the treaty here, but we are all convinced that he would not have signed it, now or later, with the inclusion of the features to which the Turkish Government objected. I therefore feel that our concessions were made at the proper moment and were essential to the conclusion of the negotiations.
Throughout our negotiations we have all felt that the Turks were essentially honest. I have this impression very strongly as a result [Page 1150] of numerous conferences with Ismet and I find that the other members of our Delegation have the same feeling as a result of their meetings with the Turkish experts. The bargaining method, as I have said before, was not in evidence; the Turks were logical and frank in their methods. They knew at the start what they wanted and what they were prepared to give and we are convinced that no considerations or tactics would have led them to depart from their position in any appreciable degree.
With regard to the practical effect of our treaty on American interests in Turkey, I cannot do better than to enclose a memorandum30 drawn up by Mr. Shaw who, next to Admiral Bristol, probably understands the situation in Turkey better than any other American. It explains itself and needs no comment from me. Shaw’s views have the full indorsement of Dolbeare and Barnes.
Before closing, I should like respectfully to express my full appreciation of the support and encouragement which the Department has given us throughout these negotiations and further to record in the highest terms my commendation of the efficient work, sound judgment and admirable spirit of every member of our staff throughout the Conference and our own negotiations.
With high respect [etc.]
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