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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 from the charge dʹaffaires of the USSR in Turkey to the peopleʹs commissariat of foreign affairs of the USSR. September 7, 1937

September 7, 1937

I touched upon in a conversation with Menemencioglu [1] the issue of the upcoming conference on the safety of navigation. Menemencioglu is very pessimistic about the situation, believing that Italy and Germany will raise the Spanish problem as a whole at this conference and this may lead to complications. I asked what the attitude of the Turkish government is towards taking collective security measures. Menemencioglu said that if they entail a war against Italy and Germany, then Turkey does not intend to participate. ʺeven if England, France, USSR, etc. Will participate in this conflict?ʺ I asked. Menemencioglu replied that it would depend on what Turkish interests would be affected, because Turkey would not want to repeat the mistake of the world war when it was not for anything drawn into it by Germany. When asked what instructions Aras, appointed by Turkeyʹs representative to the conference, will have, Menemencioglu replied that he would be instructed to work towards general agreements. ʺand if, as can be foreseen, Italy and Germany sabotage?ʺ I asked. Menemencioglu replied that in convening the conference, England apparently had in mind to propose something that would be acceptable to all. If this turns out to be impossible, then the Turkish government will make a decision adhoc depending on the situation that will be created at the conference.

Zalkind

[1] secretary general of the Turkish foreign ministry.