760J.67/12–1945: Telegram
The Ambassador in Turkey (Wilson) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 20—10:44 a.m.]
1593. Reference recent announcement USSR would grant facilities to Armenians abroad who wish immigrate to Armenian SSR, Turk press publishing items to effect Soviet Consulate General at Istanbul begun register names of persons in Turkey of Armenian origin who wish to go to Soviet Armenian and some 200 Armenians have so far applied to Consulate General.
Secretary General of Foreign Office tells me his information is that number who have so applied greatly exceeds 200 and that Soviet Consulate General is in effect “recruiting” Armenians to send to Soviet Armenia.
Soviet plan presumably is to bring large number to Armenian SSR who would find insufficient living space and reinforce demands for annexation Turk eastern provinces.
Dept may wish to instruct our missions in countries having large number Armenians such as France, Syria, Lebanon, Egypt, etc., to [Page 1285] follow this situation and report concerning number and type of Armenians registering at Soviet Consulate General and departing for USSR. I should appreciate being informed of such reports.
Sent Dept as 1593, repeated Moscow as 130.