740.0011 European War 1939/6–3044: Telegram
The Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Harriman) to the Secretary of State
[Received 7:58 p.m.]
2374. Reference my 2327, June 28, midnight. The British Ambassador has shown me a note of June 29 from Molotov which reads in paraphrase translation as follows:
Reference is made to the British Ambassador’s letter of June 25 relating to the plan of the British Government to approach the Turkish Government and invite the Turkish Government to break off diplomatic and economic relations with Germany. In this connection Mr. Molotov considers it necessary to inform the British Ambassador as follows:
There is no ground for supposing, insofar as the Soviet Government is aware, that the Turkish Government will agree to the step proposed by the British and even if the Turks should do so, it would be a half measure and would have no important effect upon hastening the conclusion of the war. The British are cognizant of the Turkish Government’s offer to the Soviet Government of May 27 and of the Soviet Government’s reply of June 5. In the opinion of the Soviet Government, evidence of the Turkish Government’s real desire to act with the Allies against Hitlerite Germany might be a decision on the Turkish part immediately to break with Germany, and Turkey’s joining with the Allies in the war against the common enemy, Germany. At the Moscow and Tehran Conferences55 as long ago as last year, this was recognized to be necessary by the three Allied Governments. Turkey might in this case lay claim, both during the war as well as when peace is concluded, to a deserving place among the Allies.
Repeated to Ankara for Ambassador Steinhardt.
- For documentation regarding Turkey at the Tehran Conference between President Roosevelt, British Prime Minister Churchill, and Soviet Premier Stalin, November 28–December 1, 1943, see Foreign Relations, The Conferences at Cairo and Tehran, 1943, index, p. 928, entry on Turkey under Tehran Conference.↩