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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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Recording of the conversation of the peopleʹs commissioner for foreign affairs of the USSR V. M. Molotov with the ambassador of Great Britain in  the USSR s. Crips *

December 28, 1941 secret

Comrade Molotov says that, in accordance with Crippsʹ wishes, he is handing him personally a response to Eden’s December 20 memorandum on the Kurds. Today the text of the note will be handed over to comrade Maisky for presenting Eden. Comrade Molotov says that the essence of the note boils down to the fact that we see no reason on our part for Turkeyʹs concern over the Kurdish issue. On the territory of Iran, where the Soviet troops are located, there has never been any riots by Kurdish elements, and, of course, this kind of thing is not encouraged by the Soviet troops. On the contrary, measures are being taken to prevent clashes between Kurds and Iranians. Comrade Molotov states that he specifically spoke on the phone with Baku and asked if any of the Kurds were in Baku. Kurdish figures from the territory of Iran, where the Soviet troops are located, were indeed in Baku on their own initiative without political goals in order to get acquainted with the theater of Azerbaijan and the city of Baku. It was inconvenient for them to refuse a desire to visit Baku. No one had any political conversations with them, and no internal issues concerning the Iranians or Kurds were discussed with them. Comrade Molotov says he can add that our ambassador recently reported on a conversation between prime minister Forugi and Bullerd and Smirnov. Forugi rebuked that the British in some places support the Kurds against the Iranians. We did not have any information on this. Comrade Molotov repeats that neither the Iranians nor the Turks have contacted us on this matter.

Cripps thanks for the message. He explains that the reason why he personally wished to receive an answer from comrade Molotov to Eden’s note is that he wanted to ask whether the Iranians or the Turks would be informed about this answer.

Comrade Molotov replies that if they had contacted us, we would have given them appropriate explanations.

Cripps says it would be prudent for the Iranians and Turks to seek relevant information directly from the Soviet government. The best thing would be if the British ambassador to Turkey and the British envoy to Iran inform the governments of Turkey and Iran that if they show concern, it is advisable for them to turn to the Soviet government. Cripps asks: can he tell Eden that the best way for the Turks and Iranians to get acquainted with the views of the Soviet government is to go directly to the Soviet government?

Comrade Molotov says that we do not insist that Iranians or Turks contact us. If they apply, they will receive appropriate explanations from us.

At the end of the conversation, Cripps reports that a Norwegian envoy has arrived in Moscow from Arkhangelsk. He doesnʹt know what to do next. Perhaps comrade Molotov will tell him, Cripps, what to convey to the Norwegian envoy. He would like to know if he will be able to present his credentials in Moscow while comrade Kalinin is here.

Comrade Molotov replies that he does not know how long comrade Kalinin will stay in Moscow. Comrade Molotov promises to clarify this issue and inform the Norwegian envoy through comrade Kozyrev.

The conversation was recorded by v. Pavlov

Wua rf. F. 06. On. 3. P. I. D. 7. L. 45‐46.