761.6711/3–2345: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant) to the Secretary of State
[Received 6:09 p.m.]
3025. The Foreign Office today showed us a message dated March 22 from the British Ambassador in Ankara18 regarding the denunciation by the Soviet Government of the Turco-Soviet Treaty of Friendship and Neutrality. This telegram stated that the Turkish Foreign Minister19 had sent for Peterson yesterday in connection with this matter. Saka had told him that Molotov had said to the Turkish Ambassador in Moscow that the Soviet Government was denouncing the treaty earlier than was necessary because he, the Turkish Ambassador, was returning shortly to Ankara. (The Foreign Office remarked that this was an odd excuse.) Molotov had said that the treaty was old and “altered conditions rendered serious modifications necessary”. Saka stated to Peterson that the Turkish Ambassador was due back from Moscow on April 2 and that the Turkish Government felt that it would have to make some statement to the Soviet Government after the Ambassador’s return. Peterson was told that the Turkish Government wished to consult the British Government before making any such reply. Saka continued that despite the denunciation, the treaty would remain valid until November 7 next.
Saka believes that the Soviets in reality wished to have bilateral conversations with the Turks in order that the Montreux Convention [Page 1225] might be modified. Peterson told Saka that the British Government had no evidence of any such desire for bilateral conversations on the part of the Soviet Government.
The Turkish Foreign Minister continued by stating that the Turkish Government really wished to place their relations with the Soviet Government on a better footing in order that they would not be a hindrance in any way to the best possible Anglo-Soviet relations. He remarked, however, that this would not be possible if Moscow believed that Turkey could be treated in the same fashion as Rumania and Bulgaria were now being handled.
Saka, in referring to Molotov’s moderate attitude toward the Turkish Ambassador, stated that the Greek Ambassador in Ankara20 had told him that his Russian colleague had received instructions from Moscow that he should be adamant with the Turks in a demand for deeds and not words.
Repeated to Moscow as 108 and Ankara as 18.