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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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February 26, 1921 , the speech at the opening of the Moscow conference on the conclusion of the Soviet‐Turkish treaty was delivered on February 26, 1921 by the head of the Soviet delegation

G.V. Chicherin.

In his speech G.V. Chicherin, in particular, said:

“The conference, which I have the honor to open, is destined to create an era in the history of the East and to finally consolidate the close and lasting unity between the peoples of Russia and Turkey, imbued with the same decision to defend their independence against any external oppression and oppression and the right to dispose of their own destiny and decide their own question. political and social order ...

Difficult trials that both people have to endure. If the working Russian people succeeded in repelling an external attack and defeating internal enemies, it was possible to do this only at a great cost and by exerting all their vital forces. Fortified in the process of those unparalleled trials that fell to its lot. Soviet Russia has become a natural ally of all peoples fighting for their freedom, including the Turkish people, with whom we today proclaim indissoluble friendship. In the same way, the new Turkey has to create its new strength in an unheard‐of struggle, and just like the Russian people, the Turkish people had to simultaneously become a hero and a victim of their unparalleled suffering. At times it seemed that he was on the edge of an abyss and almost swallowed up by the abyss. And only the amazing courage of the Turkish worker and peasant, who fought off the rapists on the battlefield, opened the way for him to a new future.

By virtue of the Treaty of Sevres, Turkey lost its capital, the Mediterranean coast, two‐thirds of Asia Minor was turned into a sphere of influence of France and Italy, and even in that small piece of territory that remained to the Turkish people, it has to be the eternal slave and tributary of the large financial capital of Western Europe ... They hoped that the invasion of the Greek troops would break his resistance, and if it is true that above all the amazing heroism of the Turkish peasant and worker led to a complete change in his position, I am happy to declare that the moral and political assistance that we have provided to Turkey, our natural ally, the bond that has developed between us since last year has also contributed to this result. And if now the question of revising the Treaty of Sevres has come up, if Constantinople begins to shake off before Angora, if the delegation of the Great National Assembly is invited to the London conference, which, in all likelihood, will end in a postponement of the decision, and not a refusal, we can rightfully declare that, along with the heroism of the Turkish soldier, there is our share in this matter.

The conference that we are opening today should consolidate this unity, which is so important for both our countries, and complete the work that we started last year. The friendship of the peoples of the East is for us the main condition of our international life, just as for Turkey our friendship should be the main basis of its political position. Our moral and political forces are inextricably linked with our alliance with the peoples of the East, who are fighting for their freedom; The friendship that unites us must develop in our and your interests, in the interests of all peoples fighting against the tyranny imposed from the outside. It must find its expression in a formal and final treaty uniting our two peoples. ʺ

Touching further on the issue of the territorial integrity of Turkey and pointing out that the seacoast adjacent to Constantinople should belong to Turkey, G.V. Chicherin continued:

“At the same time, the Turkish people told us last year through their representatives that they are ready to recognize in the straits, where he is the master, a special regime that ensures freedom of trade and guarantees the interests of countries experiencing a natural need for them ‐ countries adjacent to the Black Sea.

So, no disagreements on this vital point can divide us. But above all, the Turkish people must be the master of their home. He must no longer remain a slave to international capital, and the entire old system of foreign intervention must be done away with. Russia set an example in this regard by canceling all of its foreign debts, and therefore we are in a favorable position to negotiate with the Turkish people on this issue. But above all and with special attention during these negotiations we will treat the interests of the working masses. It is they who want to conclude an alliance through our agency, it is they who formed the new Russia and breathed new life into the old Turkey. In fact, it is only in the working masses that the strength and all life of peoples and states rests. And since these masses are fighting in Turkey and Rosshi, we can be sure that no force in the world can break them. Their only representative in Turkey is the Grand National Assembly. They defend freedom with their breasts. They have risen to repel foreign rapists, and whatever the difficulties they have yet to overcome, they alone ensure victory through their struggle. The hour of victory will soon strike. It is approaching every day, and todayʹs conference will be a new stage that will give new strength to both peoples.

With these thoughts and this confidence, I declare the Conference open. 

In a speech in response, delivered in Turkish, the head of the Turkish delegation, Yusuf Kemal, said: “In his speech, Mr. Commissioner praised the Turkish working people and Turkish soldiers who are fighting for the independence of their homeland. I give him endless gratitude for this. At the same time, it is necessary to express praise to the Russian people and the Red Army.

Under the yoke of the same system of coercion, people from both camps near Erzurum died. Our peoples were forcibly thrown into struggle with each other under the pretext of the ʺEastern questionʺ. This question could not be solved by the imperialists, and Turkey itself solved its own question.

Turkey was so oppressed that bitter experience taught it to rely only on its own strength.

The Treaty of Sevres destroys Turkey, but it exists only in the imagination of those who drew it up, and the Turkish people will never agree to it. At that moment, when he decided to fight to the end, his eyes were presented with an example of another people pursuing an even higher ideal: an agreement naturally arises between them with the aim of common action. I believe that under the prevailing conditions, historical determinism would have forced our two peoples to come to an agreement even if it was contrary to the wishes of the rulers. I will not refer to historical facts, but I dare to assure all workers in Russia, peasants, workers and soldiers, that the Turkish people are sincerely extending their hand to them.

Let London revise the Treaty of Sevres. We know too well in what sense this revision can be made and what benefits it promises to the Turkish people. Is it possible for imperialism to abandon its demands?

We have chosen the surest path. Geographical, historical, economic and political conditions showed us the way to Russia. Before the representatives of the new Russia, I say with all the sincerity characteristic of the Turk: believe in us. Let the people who control world politics consult, they are powerless to change the course of history. All the meetings that are taking place will not force us to deviate from the right path on which we stand.

Letʹs take a look at the present situation: we have two valiant peoples who want to get rid of world capitalism. New Turkey has a new source of energy: the Turkish people have become quite conscious of the meaning of economic domination. He knows that economic independence is the main factor in the life of the nation, and such a Turkey will undoubtedly be able to win back complete freedom for itself. As you just said, the common interests of our peoples make us unite our efforts in order to give new strength to our peoples, and we must subordinate all our actions and aspirations to cooperation. A unity has already emerged between us: we are firmly convinced that it will grow in volume and strength. We sympathize with all your desires for collaboration. When the details of the existing draft treaty are clarified, it can be made public to the whole world. We must declare not only Asia, but also the peoples of the West and the imperialists of the treaty between the Moscow government, the hotbed of communism, and Turkey, the hotbed of aspirations for the liberation of the eastern world. This treaty will show the whole world that it contains the freedom of peoples and the right of everyone to a free and independent existence, that we have no views on this or that territory and we are not like those who sit in London. Such a comparison will show that we alone are the bearers of the freedom of nations. Both nations are fighting for the same ideal, and if an agreement is not concluded between them, the blame will fall entirely on those who had the duty to do so.

The Turkish delegation, imbued with a sense of its duty, wishes to start negotiations with this ʺconsciousness and, as soon as possible, arrive at satisfactory results.ʺ ‐ 515.