811.248/581: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Turkey (Steinhardt)
287. Department’s 282, June 18 [17], 8 p.m. and your 625, June 18, 2 p.m. General Arnold requests that the following telegram be sent to you:
“The presentation of the four planes to Turkey, for use as transports, is approved, our officers and crews acting as instructors in the use of the planes. Please request the Turkish Government in turn not to place the officers and personnel on parole but to treat them as a military mission to Turkey. It is hoped that eventually the Turkish Government may wink at their departure from Turkey. The presentation of the planes should not include secret military instruments. These are to be turned over immediately and unconditionally to you. The Turkish authorities should understand this requirement since the planes are to be used as transports. If our crews can be put in control of the planes as suggested above, they would find an early opportunity to remove or destroy the instruments referred to. Unless you are reasonably certain that a presentation of the planes to Turkey will accomplish most of our objectives, withhold their disposition and continue negotiations.”
The Department requests you to proceed in accordance with the above.