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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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From: conversation of the first deputy commissioner for foreign affairs of the USSR A. Y. Vyshinsky with the ambassador of Great Britain in the USSR Cripps

Sent to comrade Stalin, comrade Molotov, comrade Voroshilov, comrade Kaganovich, comrade Mikoyan, comrade Dekanozov, comrade Lozovsky, general secretariat

November 2, 1940

........

Cripps then asked for permission to exchange views with me on the following two political issues:

1. Cripps stated that when he met with comrade Molotov * he asked him what would have happened and what would have been the attitude of the USSR if Italy had attacked; Greece. Comrade Molotov replied that it was incredible, but that this fact could be discussed if this happened. At present, Italy attacked Greece, can he find out what is the attitude of the USSR to this issue.

I replied that, probably, he did not understand comrade Molotovʹs words correctly enough, since, obviously, it was about the fact that there was no need to discuss fortune‐telling facts. Cripps corrected himself, saying that he understood comrade Molotov just that way, but that now, indeed, the translation was made inaccurately. On the merits of the question, I replied that our position is determined by the principles of our foreign policy, of which it is not difficult to be convinced on the basis of generally known facts.

2. Cripps asked what the attitude of the USSR would be if Turkey entered the war. This question interests him because the situation in Bulgaria leaves no doubt that she will do it.

Further, Cripps said that when he talked with J. V. Stalin *, J. V. Stalin told him that the USSR would like to establish closer relations with Turkey, and that J. V. Stalin expressed his wishes that the British government should render the USSR its assistance in achieving this rapprochement. Since he, Cripps, does not often have to meet J. V. Stalin, then he would like to ask what the attitude of J. V. Stalin to this question is.

I replied that, as Cripps should understand, I cannot take upon myself the right to express an opinion on this matter to J. V. Stalin, without being authorized to do so. Then Cripps asked me to express my opinion as a representative of the NKID. To which I replied that our relations with Turkey are determined by the 1925 treaty **, in the spirit of which our attitude to the question posed at the present time should be considered.

The conversation lasted 1 hour and 45 minutes.

Comrade Novikov was present at the conversation.

A. Vyshinsky appendix

ʺMr. Ambassador,

On behalf of the government of the union of Soviet socialist republics, in response to your note dated October 29, this year, I have the honor to state the following:

The government of the USSR is forced to recognize as incorrect the statement of the British government that the recognition by the Soviet government of the need to form a new Danube commission and the participation of the USSR in the negotiations in Bucharest are a violation of neutrality. ... The formation of the Danube commission with the participation of the USSR, as well as states located along the Danube or close to the Danube, is the restoration of justice violated by the Versailles and other treaties, by virtue of which, under the leadership of the British government, the USSR was removed from both the international and European Danube commissions.

The Danube commission, of course, should be made up of representatives of states located along the Danube or closely connected with the Danube and using the Danube as a channel for trade (for example, Italy).

It is clear that Great Britain, which is thousands of kilometers from the

Danube, cannot be classified as such a state.

It is also clear that the question of the composition of the Danube commission has nothing to do with the question of neutrality.

In view of the above, the Soviet government cannot accept the protest announced by the British government in a note dated October 29 of this year.

I ask you, Mr. Ambassador, to accept the assurances of my utmost respect to you. ʺ

Avp rf, f. 07, on. 1, p. 2, d.22, l. 29‐36.