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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 Turkey in the USSR  Aktay *

June 24, 1941 secret

Comrade Molotov states that he invited the ambassador to him in order to find out if the ambassador has official instructions on the position of the Turkish government in relation to the war between the Soviet Union and Germany.

The ambassador replies that, unfortunately, he has not received any messages from his government for four days. He even wanted to contact comrade Barkov in order to find out whether his telegrams had been detained. The ambassador heard yesterday on the radio from Ankara that the Turkish government has announced its decision to maintain strict neutrality towards both belligerent powers. Today, Turkish radio broadcast the contents of a number of articles from the Turkish press dedicated to the war between the USSR and Germany. The articles also refer to the decision of the Turkish government to adhere to a position of neutrality in relation to both warring countries. The ambassador believes that the Turkish government will maintain strict neutrality towards the Soviet Union, the only state that has provided assistance to the Turkish republic in its struggle for independence. The Turkish government always retains a sense of the deepest and most sincere gratitude towards the Soviet Union.

The ambassador repeats that he has no official instructions from Ankara, but he will immediately ask his government on this issue and, upon receiving an answer, will immediately inform comrade Molotov.

Comrade Molotov told the ambassador that, as a representative of the Soviet government, he was interested in the question of whether the Turkish government adheres to a position of neutrality or whether it adheres to one or another belligerent side.

As regards telegraph communication between the embassy and Turkey, comrade Molotov promises to take all measures to ensure that communication is ensured.

The ambassador thanks comrade Molotov and declares for the second time that he will immediately ask his government on a question of interest to the Soviet government.

Saying goodbye to comrade Molotov, the ambassador wished the

Soviet Union success in this war.

Recorded by Chumakova

Avp rf, f. About. On. 3. P. 1, d.5. L. 32‐33.