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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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Talk of the plenipotentiary representative of the USSR in the Turkish republic of ca. Vinogradova with the ambassador of Great Britain to Turkey Netchbull‐hugessen

Sent to comrade Molotov, comrade Vyshinsky, general secretariat

May 3, 1941 secret

I had Hugessen. In response to my comment that, judging by todayʹs reports, England has started a war with Iraq, 237 Hugessen said: “you cannot actually say that this is a war. The point is as follows. In accordance with our agreement, we have asked to transport our troops through Iraqi territory. The Iraqi government agreed and kindly met the first part of these troops on their landing in Basra. But when we wanted to land the second part of the troops, about which there was an agreement, the Iraqis declared that this was contrary to the Anglo‐Iraqi agreement. As a result, a shootout began there yesterday. These events are the result of German intrigue. Gailani, the head of the Iraqi government, has been nominated to this position by some Iraqi generals who are in close contact with berlin. ʺ

When I asked where the Germans came from in Iraq, Hugessen said that there are no Germans in Iraq, since relations with Germany were severed by Iraq after the start of the war. But the Germans are doing their work there with money and through the Italian embassy.

I asked if it was true that the Iraqi government had turned to Germany for help and how Germany could help Iraq.

Hugessen said: “the Iraqi government has turned to berlin for help by radio. If Germany really wants to provide military assistance, it will be a risky and difficult operation for her. The Turks will not allow passage through their territory, I am firmly convinced of this. ʺ

I asked how the Turks reacted to the reports on the events in Iraq.

Hugessen said that the Turks are very worried about these events, since the maintenance of peaceful relations between Britain and Iraq is of vital interest to Turkey, therefore Turkey took upon itself mediation in this matter.

I asked how Hugessen assesses the current position of Turkey.

Hugessen said: “Turkeyʹs position remains the same. She wants, first of all, to stay out of the war, if only this can be achieved without affecting her independence, her neutrality and the policy of alliance with England. I have developed this conviction as a result of repeated conversations with Turkish leaders. ʺ

I said that there has been a lot of talk lately that Turkey will conclude a non‐aggression pact with Germany240.

Hugessen stated that he considered it impossible. But he admits that the Germans will try now, in any case, to strengthen their ties with the Turks, primarily in the economic sphere. The ambassador added that England also buys a lot from Turkey.

I asked what obligations Turkey still had under the Ankara pact129. If you look closely at this pact, you get the impression that the Turks should have fulfilled a number of obligations long ago. Now they do not even talk about security zones and seem to limit their obligations under the pact only to the defense of their own borders.

Hugessen replied: “in general, this is true. However, the pact should not be interpreted too literally. Its implementation depends on the circumstances. The most important thing is that Turkey remains intact so that it is not invaded. This is important not only for us, but also for your country. ʺ

Hugessen went on to say: “I understand your policy. But I would like to draw your attention to the fact that under certain circumstances, in order to preserve the security of your country, it is more expedient to take certain actions than to do nothing. Recent events have made it especially clear that countries that thought to save themselves by doing nothing have lost everything because of this.”

I said that the policy pursued by our government is completely independent and it did not and will not depend on the wishes of any other country. Our country cannot be called an inactive country either. We are taking all necessary measures to ensure our safety. It is not at all necessary for this to go to war. You can ensure your interests in another way.

The Englishman said: “lately, many people have been talking about the next target of German pressure to be Turkey. But also, many argue that Germany will soon turn against the Soviet Union. In this regard, the reports about German troops in Finland and Moldova attract much attention. ʺ

I said that I heard similar rumors, but I consider them implausible. As for our relations with Germany, they are determined by the treaties existing between our countries.

Hugessen inquired about the meaning of the recently published decree banning the transit of military equipment through the USSR *.

I replied that I knew about this decree only from foreign newspapers. Hugessen said: “the Japanese did not like it very much anyway. I heard that you still allowed the Turks to transit some relatively innocent goods. ʺ

I said that indeed the Soviet government had given such permission for some goods.

Hugessen stated: “I was informed about this by the Kriegschs and also by the Turks.

I know that at first the Soviet government seemed to have given its consent to the transit of all goods purchased by Turkey in Sweden. But then it was announced that only certain goods were allowed to pass, and the Turks were disappointed with this. I personally hope that you will allow Turkey to transport all the goods it needs. They can only get it through your country or from you. I know that the Turks wanted to ask your country to sell oil and a number of other urgently needed goods. If they haven’t done it so far, they will obviously do it in the near future. For its part, the British government, in the person of Eden, addressed your ambassador Maisky * with this question, pointing out the extreme importance for Turkey of receiving oil and other goods it needs from you. ʺ

I noticed that I had not heard about Turkeyʹs appeal to us on this issue. Hugessen said: “could you take the initiative in this matter by offering Turkey oil and other goods it needs. Itʹs also in your interests. ʺ

I limited myself to pointing out that there is no surplus of oil in our country, since we ourselves have great needs for it.

I then inquired about the ambassadorʹs opinion on the prospects for the development of military operations. Hugessen replied that, in his opinion, the Mediterranean would be the center of hostilities. It is quite possible that the Germans will do something against Gibraltar. Egypt now has a fairly strong defense.

I asked the ambassador if Turkey has any obligations under the Saidabad pact14, pointed out that the Turks may find themselves in a difficult position if they are obliged to help Iraq, as they have, on the other hand, in accordance with the Ankara pact129 the obligation to help England ...

Hughessen said that he is not familiar with the text of the Saidabad pact, but admits the possibility that Turkey will find itself in such a predicament. He then stated that a solution to the conflict in Iraq can only be achieved by eliminating the Gailani government. The ambassador said that there is a large number of people in Iraq who are dissatisfied with this government, which relies only on a relatively small group.

Plenipotentiary of the USSR in Turkey Vinogradov avp rf, f. 0134, on. 24a, p. 236, d. 7, l. 288‐292.