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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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Telegram of the plenipotentiary representative of the USSR in the Turkish republic a. V. Terentyev in the NKID of the USSR

June 24, 1940

Today, for the first time in two years of his stay in Ankara, the Italian ambassador Peppo * came to me. He believes that, despite Turkeyʹs non‐entry into the war, its policy remains uncertain. “we are not worried about whether Turkey will be “neutral” or “out of the war,” the Italian noted, “as long as the Turks do not participate in the war. I made it clear in Ankara, not directly, but indirectly, that if they went to break off relations with us here, it would still mean for them a war with Italy. The Turks, for example, could provide their ports to the allies, in which case there would still be a war. Contrary to the Turks, I didn’t say anything except that they didn’t move. I advised them: stay in the same position in which you are now, and you can be calm for yourself. If you move, it can get into trouble. For now, I am silent just as I did before, but soon I think to properly talk about the provocative behavior of the press and ʺAnagaʺ, which give completely only messages to Reuters. They ignore the messages of Stephanie, Dnb and even Tass. ʺ Peppo expressed great satisfaction that the Italian and Soviet ambassadors arrived in Moscow and Rome. “they tried to speculate on Italian‐Soviet relations here,” he continued, “but the news of the departure of the ambassadors to their posts affected the Turks like a thunderbolt in clear weather. I am very pleased that your ambassador presented his credentials to the king of Italy and Albania. ʺ I asked Peppo what he knew about the arrival of Iraqi ministers to Ankara, and he replied: “this visit has been decided by the British. Nuri said pasha is clearly a pro‐English figure bought by the British. I have absolutely accurate information that the stay of Asım gundis in Syria and Haifa and Chakmak in Beirut was intended to agree on the occupation of Aleppo by Turkey, and possibly Jazira. However, then negotiations were underway about this even at a time when Syria was in the hands of the French. Now France is finished, and the question of Syria will be decided by the terms of peace. Having lost France, the British intend to create an Arab state from parts of Syria, Palestine, Transjordan, and possibly Iraq, giving Aleppo and Jazira to Turkey. The Turks hope for a solution to this question now, that is, when France is not there, but they are deeply mistaken if they think that everything depends on an agreement with Britain and Iraq. Not England or Iraq will decide the question of Syria. The Turk is very interested in what position Italy will take. However, this time I say absolutely nothing to them. I am sure that they will not succeed, since the Syrian issue will be resolved differently.

If, for example, Syria considers itself a part of the Fraitsia of Petain, then this issue will be resolved normally. If general of the army Mitte Hauser refuses to obey Petain, then we will consider him as a rebel. Received by the Turks last year, Alexandretta is important as a strategic and commercial port. The British wanted to use Alexandretta as a strategic port, but they failed to do so. This means that it has no military significance, but its commercial significance depends on whether Alexandretta will have a  Heiterland in the form of Aleppo. That is why the Turks would very much like to get this city. I still think that they will not move but will wait. Their entire policy is based on expectation and speculation. They do not want to publish their decision for reasons of not looking like they have already had their last word. ʺ Peppo believes that Turkey thinks more about the USSR, whose position will be the decisive factor for it. The Turks will not do anything that could put them in a conflict situation with the USSR. As he left, Peppo expressed an ardent desire to keep in touch with me. I answered in about the same spirit. Turks are actively mobilizing. For several days, cars, motorcycles, bicycles, carts, horses, mules and donkeys are stopped in front of the entire people in Ankara and Istanbul during the day, sending all this to mobilization points for transfer to the army. I myself have seen the continuous requisition paintings repeatedly in Ankara and Kutuzov in Istanbul. Three ages are called up: 1910, 1909 and 1908 years of birth. Large columns of mobilized people in new uniforms often March along the streets of Ankara *: mobilization of three more ages is expected.

Terentyev

Avp rf, f. 059, on. 1, p. 314, d. 2161, l. 321‐324.