740.0011 EW 1939/31917: Telegram
The Charge in Ankara (Kelley) to the President, the Secretary of State, and the Under Secretary of State (Stettinius)
1844. My 1823, November 8.1
Most secret. For President, Secretary and Under Secretary.
The British Ambassador2 gave me this afternoon, upon his return from Cairo, the following summary account3 of the conversations between Eden and the Turk Minister for Foreign Affairs.4 He said that Eden opened the conversations by telling Numan that there were two questions which he desired to discuss with him. The first was that of Turkey making available immediately air bases to the Allies and the second that of Turkey’s participation in the war. Numan replied at once that he could not agree that these were separate questions because the granting of air bases involved Turkey’s entry into the war. As for making immediately available air bases to the Allies, Numan firmly declined to agree to his proposal. He based his refusal principally on military considerations, namely, that the Germans were still sufficiently powerful and in a position to take retaliatory action which the Turks were not prepared or equipped at the present time to meet, that the Germans were in a position to destroy Turk cities, et cetera. He also maintained that Turk public opinion was not in favor of Turkey taking action which would involve her entry into the war and that in any case the public had not been prepared for such action.
With regard to the question of Turkey’s participation in the war, Numan took the position that if Turkey entered the war she would [Page 175] want to do something which would be of real help to the Allies and not remain on the side line and make faces at the Germans, as Eden had intimated that she might do. However, such action on the part of Turkey involved important political and military questions which would have to be thoroughly examined. Numan was particularly concerned with regard to the possibility of Russian penetration into the Balkans.
He talked at great length on this point and said Turkey would desire to have assurances Soviets did not contemplate acquiring territory [or?] bases in Balkans or establishing its domination over that region. Upshot of discussion of question of Turkey’s participation in the war was it was agreed Numan, upon his return to Ankara, would discuss the matter with Turkish leaders and he would take up with British Ambassador political and military considerations which Turk Government desired to have examined in connection with its study of the question.
When informing Soviet Ambassador5 [of the?] discussions at Cairo, British Ambassador took occasion to stress to him Turkey’s concern with regard to postwar situation in Balkans and her anxiety lest, even if she entered war, situation in Balkans might be less favorable to Turkey after war than prior to war. He explained to Vinogradov Turks look upon Balkans in somewhat same light as British look upon Low Countries. I gather from my talk with Hugessen British consider that the obtaining from Moscow of assurances relative to Balkans of a nature calculated to satisfy Turks presents a difficult problem unless Russians are readily disposed to offer such assurances.
In response to my question as to why Russians, at a time when Germans appear to be hard pressed, were so insistent upon bringing Turkey into war Hugessen said he was told that although Russians now have upper hand militarily there is such great suffering in Soviet Union they consider it of utmost importance to do everything possible to bring war to a speedy conclusion.