Marx-Engels |  Lenin  | Stalin |  Home Page

  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.

Download PDF
 

From a conversation of the plenipotentiary representative of the USSR in Germany Dekanozov with the temporary attorney in the Turkish republic in Germany F. Alkendom

Sent to comrade Molotov, comrade Vyshinsky, general secretariat

January 13, 1941 secret

[...] “Romania, the so‐called “legionary state”, is a Balkan country, joined the pact of the three and found it possible to let German troops into their country. Hungary is also a Balkan country, which, as you know, joined the pact of three. Countries such as Bulgaria, Yugoslavia and Greece now differ from these countries. As for the Soviet Union, it primarily pursues its own interests and conducts its own foreign policy, and in each individual case its actions will depend on what kind of relationship exists between the Soviet Union and the country in question. ʺ

A [lkend] replied that, in his opinion, the Soviet Union still cannot remain passive in the case of Germanyʹs occupation of the Balkans, since the occupation of the Balkans will be followed by the occupation of Turkey, and Turkey may be followed by Russia. Germany, having occupied Turkey, will first of all seize the Mosul oil sources, and then will seek to seize Baku. A [lkend] stressed that even in the last war, when Germany and Turkey were allies, after Turkeyʹs occupation of Baku there was a clash between Turkish and German troops, even then Germany did not want to cede oil sources to Turkey. Germany wants to seize all oil fields, so the Soviet Union cannot be indifferent to her actions. I replied that if we talk about the danger in relation to Baku, then we should speak first of all about the precedents that took place not so long ago, when someoneʹs planes, not German ones, made reconnaissance flights both over Baku and over Batumi *, which was also mentioned in the white book published by the Germans. And [lkend] said that he knew what I was talking about, but he wanted to assure me that it was a misunderstanding, the Turks could not let the British planes fly over Batumi, Turkey knows the price of friendship with the Soviet Union, therefore its aspiration is to keep good and friendly relations with the Soviet Union. I added that a lot of papers had been written on this in due time and I would not like to add anything to what happened now but mentioned this in connection with the fact that the attorney raised this issue. And [lkend], continuing this conversation, said that in the last speech of the Turkish prime minister it was said that Turkey will not allow any country to use its bases. I said that I did not have this speech. A [lkend] expressed its readiness to send me its text.

To my question, when a [lkend] was expecting the arrival of the ambassador, a [lkend] replied that Gerede was ill himself, and now his wife was ill, and he did not know exactly when he would arrive. Saying goodbye, a [lkend] once again remarked that if Turkey is in danger, he hopes that the Soviet Union will not be indifferent.

The conversation lasted 1 hour and 50 minutes.

Plenipotentiary representative of the USSR in Germany Dekanozov avp rf, f. 082, on. 24, p. 105, db, l. 75‐76.