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  Selected Secret Documents from Soviet Foreign Policy Documents Archives - 1919 to 1941

Concentrated on 1st and  2nd WW Correspondence and Meetings related to Turkey, Balkans and Iran, with some additions from Afghanistan and India.

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Note of the peopleʹs commissar for foreign affairs of the RSFSR to the ambassador of Turkey to the RSFSR Ali Fuad.

April 26, 1921 no. 758

Mr. Ambassador,

Leaving Batum, the former Georgian government took with it the following ships belonging to the Russian republic, which, according to an agreement concluded between the former Georgian government and the Russian government, were to be handed over to representatives of Russia: maria, a passenger steamer of the former Russian company; vesta, a merchant ship owned by the former Russian company; ʺIlya Morozovʺ and the steam schooner ʺAmvroziaʺ; motor sailors ʺAnapraʺ, ʺsaint Nicholasʺ, ʺbayanʺ, ʺElenaʺ, ʺVasilyʺ, ʺpeter the greatʺ, ʺsaint Alexeiʺ, ʺStrogiyʺ, ʺVerdun iiʺ, ʺMariaʺ and ʺAlexanderʺ.

In addition, ships were taken away, which are the property of Russia and which the Georgian republic has not yet agreed to hand over to it, namely: the minesweeper castor with two barges and the steamer donets.

Some of these ships took refuge in the ports of Asia minor, directly subordinate to the government. The grand national assembly of Turkey, others arrived in Constantinople.

Considering Constantinople the capital of Turkey, we turn to you with an official petition for the return of those of our ships that are there, and, since the ports of Asia minor are fully subordinate to your government, we ask you to hand over the Russians who have taken refuge there as soon as possible to our authorities. Court.

Please accept, Mr. Ambassador, the assurances of my highest consideration.

Chicherin