761.67/11–2147: Telegram
The Ambassador in Turkey (Wilson) to the Secretary of State
897. Foreign Minister tells me Turkish Ambassador Moscow reports at November 7 reception Marshal Bulganin1 came to speak with him, Vinogradov, Soviet Ambassador to Turkey (who has been absent from Ankara well over year) serving as interpreter. Bulganin began by saying he had admired Turkey in past but now Turkey had placed herself under American hegemony, was allowing US Army create bases in Turkey and serving as instrument of US in latter’s plans to prepare war against USSR. Turkish Ambassador replied was amazed to hear such statements since no one wished war so far as he [Page 418] was aware and Turkish military establishments only defensive in character. Conversation continued a few minutes on this tone. Sadak remarked wryly this was first conversation above handling routine matters in which high Soviet official had engaged representative of Turkish Government in past year and half.
Sent Department as 897, Department pass Moscow as 23.
- Nikolay Alexandrovich Bulganin, Minister of Armed Forces of the Soviet Union.↩