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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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Conversation of the peopleʹs commissioner for foreign affairs of the USSR V. M. Molotov with the ambassador of the kingdom of Italy in the USSR a. Rosso

December 30, 1940

Secret

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Comrade Molotov replies that he takes note of these words and thinks that the special interests of the USSR in this matter are clear to the Italian government.

Rosso goes on to move on to the section of the June 25 statement relating to Turkey. The distrust of Turkey from Italy is as great as the distrust of the USSR. Turkey is pursuing an essentially anti‐Italian policy. Ciano told Gorelkin that the Italian government agreed to recognize the USSRʹs superior position in the black sea and declared Italyʹs rights in the Mediterranean.

Comrade Molotov asks the ambassador to clarify exactly what Ciano means when he speaks of Italian superiority in the Mediterranean.

Rosso replies that he does not yet have instructions on this matter and promises to request Rome. For his part, the ambassador asks comrade Molotov to give an explanation on the question of the interests of the USSR in the black sea and the straits.

Comrade Molotov replies that the USSRʹs interest in the straits is connected with the issue of the security of the unionʹs black sea borders. Russia has been attacked more than once from the straits. During the Crimean war of 1854‐55. The war came to Russia through the straits. In 1918, England, across the straits, carried out its intervention against Russia. In 1919, the French entered Russia through the straits. Turkey is currently an ally of England, and Britain is taking measures to strengthen its position in the eastern Mediterranean by setting up new naval bases on the Greek islands, which the USSR cannot ignore. We understand Italyʹs position on the Mediterranean Sea issue. Does the Italian government understand the position of the USSR on the issue of the breakdown from the point of view of the security of its borders, taking into account the position of Turkey and England and the historical experience of the USSR?

The ambassador replies that the statement made by Ciano on December 26 includes an understanding of the exceptional importance for the

USSR not only of the black sea itself, but also of the ʺgatewayʺ to it. The ambassador assumes that his government understands the interests of the USSR in this matter. He promises to ask Rome on this matter.

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Recorded subcerob wua rf, f. 06, on. 2, p. 20, d. 229, l. Is — 21.