Foreign Relations of the United States: Diplomatic Papers, The Conferences at Cairo and Tehran, 1943

Roosevelt Papers: Telegram

The Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Harriman) to the President¹

Secret
urgent

Moscow, [2 November 1943.]²

Personal and secret for the President from Harriman. Part 1 of 022307.

Referring to the Secretary’s cable to you 012215³ Molotov and Eden initialed last night their agreement regarding Turkey substantially as follows:

“It is agreed between the Foreign Secretaries of the Soviet Union and the United Kingdom as follows:⁴

• First: In order that Turkey may take her part with the United Nations in hastening the defeat of Hitlerite Germany in which Turkey and other freedom loving states are interested, the two Foreign Secretaries think it most desirable that Turkey should enter the war on the side of the United Nations before the end of 1943.
• Second: It is agreed between the two Foreign Secretaries that on behalf of the United Kingdom and the Soviet Governments it should be suggested to Turkey at the earliest possible date, to be agreed upon between them, that before the end of 1943 Turkey should enter the war.
• Third: It is further agreed that a request should immediately be made of Turkey to give to the United Nations all possible aid by placing at the disposal of the Allied Forces Turkish air bases and such other facilities as may be agreed upon as desirable by the two Governments.”

(Part two and three of Alusna Moscow’s 022307)

About midnight last night I took the protocol papers of the Conference,⁵ previously signed by Mr. Hull, to Molotov’s office where he and Eden then signed. During the discussion that followed Molotov expressed to me his satisfaction with the understanding he had reached with Eden regarding Turkey and hoped that we would agree to make it tripartite. I told him that Mr. Hull had informed you for your consideration of the discussions between himself and Eden. Tonight at the ballet Molotov asked me whether any word had been received from Washington on this subject. I explained of course that there had not yet been time for a reply and, in order to be relieved of daily pressure from Molotov I stated that I did not know whether you would wish to express an opinion until you had had an opportunity to discuss the matter in detail with Mr. Hull. Molotov seemed disappointed that there should be such a long delay and expressed the hope that a reply could be given sooner. There is no doubt they place great importance on Turkey’s entry into the war and have been unimpressed by our reasons for not being favorable to it. Eden told me that the Prime Minister had approved the agreement reached with Molotov and that he expected to see the Turkish Foreign Minister⁶ with a senior staff officer in Cairo on Thursday.⁷ He would insist on immediate use of the air bases and if he found the opportunity was propitious, he might sound him out on the subject of full entry in the war. Eden states they have no intention of giving the Turks any additional assistance beyond the arms now being shipped and the small fighter force they expect to move from the Middle East. If you are not prepared to take a definite position on this matter at the present time, I believe it would be helpful in our relations if you were to instruct me to inform Molotov of this and an indication of the time you wish to take before reaching a decision.

1. Sent to Washington by the United States Naval Attaché, Moscow, via Navy channels. Part 1, received on November 3, 1943, was forwarded by the White House Map Room to Roosevelt at Hyde Park. The remainder, headed “Part two and three”, was received on November 4, after Roosevelt had returned to Washington.
2. This message was apparently written late in the evening on November 2, 1943. It was put on the wires at 11:07 p.m., November 2, Greenwich time (i. e., early on November 3, Moscow time).
3. Telegram of November 1, 1943, ante, p. 144.
4. In the source text, the three paragraphs which follow are given in reverse order and are preceded by a statement to the effect that they are in reverse order. They are, however, given in the correct order in the message as forwarded to Roosevelt by the Map Room, and they are printed in the correct order here.
5. Ante, pp. 132–144.
6. Numan Menemencioğlu.
7. November 4, 1943.