Office of the Historian

811.248/576: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Turkey (Steinhardt)

Washington, June 17, 1942—8 p.m.

282. Your no. 607, June 15, 7 p.m. General Arnold, Chief, United States Air Corps, requests cautious procedure in connection with any negotiations looking towards presentation of planes to Turkey. First and foremost, War Department desires to obtain permission for secret instruments to be removed from planes and for the personnel to leave Turkey without parole. These would be cardinal points of any agreement to transfer planes to Turkey.

The Department will be glad to discuss with General Arnold any suggestions regarding the planes which you may receive from the Turkish authorities. As regards the personnel, the Department realizes that some time might elapse before the men could all be conveniently released. An assurance now by the Turkish Government as to its ultimate intentions might be considered satisfactory on this point.

Please reply as soon as possible.

Hull