From the annual report of the People's Commissariat for Foreign Affairs of the RSFSR to the IX Congress of Soviets for 1920-1921

Source: Documents on foreign policy of the USSR. Volume 4. p. 630. Moscow. Gospolitizdat. 1960

December 23-28, 1921

Extract

Turkey

After preliminary conferences with Turkish delegates that took place in Moscow in the summer of 1920, and the foundations of the future treaty were worked out, at the end of 1920 at the beginning of 1921 a difficult situation was created in the Middle East, culminating in the signing of the Moscow Russian-Turkish Treaty on March 16. In the West, this period is characterized by the establishment of contact between Angora and Constantinople and, first, diplomatic preludes to the London Conference on Eastern Affairs, and then the participation of Aigora and Constantinople together in it, in the East - the defeat of Dashnak Armenia by the troops of Karabekir Pasha and the greatly increased claims of Turkey, after which a compromise was followed by a lasting settlement of our relations with Turkey. All this time there was the closest contact between the two governments,

On November 9, the composition of the Russian mission arrived in Angora, but Comrade Eliava, who had been appointed plenipotentiary representative, was detained by a serious illness. The affairs of the mission were temporarily in charge of the first secretary comrade Upmal, and later he was sent to Kars and Angora with an emergency mission comrade Mdivani. The Turkish delegate Extraordinary Bekir Sami Bey left Moscow on November 16, and soon afterwards the commander of the Western Front, Ali Fuad Pasha, was appointed to us as Turkish ambassador, who arrived in Moscow in February.

As a result of a brief but energetic offensive by the Turkish troops of Kazim Karabekir Pasha, in which both sides rejected our mediation, the Dashnak government was forced on December 2, after the first declaration of Soviet Armenia, to conclude a peace with Turkey in Alexandropol (Gyumri), according to which Armenia there remained only the area east of the Arpa-chay river and north of the Araks, and even in this area Armenia pledged not to have a standing army and to issue weapons to the Turks, while the latter received the right to control and conduct military operations, but promised to help the Armenian government against external and internal enemies. The Russian Republic, which was in alliance with the Armenian Soviet Republic that had arisen at that moment, did not recognize the Treaty of Alexandropol, which, moreover, was not ratified within the prescribed month.

On December 9, 1920, the People's Commissariat of Foreign Affairs informs Angora that the RSFSR gladly accepts the proposal of the Turkish government to convene a conference in Moscow and considers it necessary for representatives of the Armenian and Azerbaijani Soviet governments to participate in this conference. At the conference in Moscow, the representatives of the RSFSR appoint the Collegium of the People's Commissariat of Foreign Affairs, headed by the People's Commissar for Foreign Affairs, which makes unacceptable, as the People's Commissariat of Foreign Affairs reports in its note to the Turkish government, the proposal to convene a conference in Baku. On December 22, the Turkish government announces that General Ali Fuad Pasha has been appointed Turkish envoy to Moscow, who will also be a member of the Turkish delegation, which will include People's Commissars Yusuf Kemal Bey and Riza Nur Bey.

January 13 NKID in a telegram to Ahmed Mukhtar welcomes the expected arrival of the Turkish delegation to Moscow.

On January 29 and 31, Bekir Sami Bey, in a radiogram, reports on correspondence with the Entente powers: The Government of the Grand National Assembly in Turkey is its only legitimate government and is ready to send its delegates to a conference in Europe to negotiate an end to hostilities, provided that it is done an immediate offer to send them.

On January 31, 1921, Ahmed Mukhtar communicated to the NKID the text of the telegrams exchanged between the head of the government, Mustafa Kemal, and the Grand Vizier of Constantinople, Tevfik Pasha. The Constantinople government agreed to a conference between the delegates of the Entente powers and the delegates of Turkey and Greece, scheduled in London for February 12, 1921, only if there were delegates from Angora, whom Tevfik Pasha asked for. In his response, Mustafa Kemal states that Angora will only consider proposals directly addressed to the Angora government, the sole legitimate representative of the Turkish people.

February 11, 1921 Bekir Sami Bey announces the upcoming departure of the Turkish delegation to London. In February, Ali Fuad Pasha, the Turkish ambassador to the RSFSR, and a delegation to conclude a peace treaty with the RSFSR arrive in Moscow.

Turkey's simultaneous negotiations with Russia and the Entente ended in opposite results in London and Moscow. The Russian-Turkish treaty of March 16 recognized the right of the Eastern peoples to freedom and independence and to choose a form of government in accordance with their desires, consolidated friendly relations between both countries, recognized the force of the Turkish National Act of January 28, 1920, left Kars, Ardagan and Artvin established the autonomy of Batum with duty-free transit for Turkish goods and the protectorate of Azerbaijan over Nakhichevan. The treaty recognizes a mutual obligation to repatriate prisoners and provides for the conclusion of a commercial and consular convention. The RSFSR undertakes not to recognize the capitulation regime, renounces all special privileges and debts of tsarist Russia; questions about the straits are referred to the countries of the Black Sea coast.

The London negotiations of Bekir Sami ended in failure due to the stubborn unwillingness of the Entente to abandon the main requirements of the Treaty of Sevres, unacceptable to Turkey, although signed by the reactionary government of Constantinople Sultan. His agreements with France (March 7) and Italy (March 13) were not approved by the Grand National Assembly in Angora.

On March 29, the People's Commissariat of Foreign Affairs announces the appointment of Comrade Natsarenus as plenipotentiary to Turkey and by May 5 receives Turkey's consent to this.

(...)

THE EAST IN THE PERIOD OF IMPLEMENTATION OF AGREEMENTS

Turkey

The Turkish delegation returning from Moscow did not take advantage of its stay in the Caucasus to conclude agreements with the Caucasian republics, provided for by the Russian-Turkish Treaty of March 16. Yusuf Kemal Bey declared that he did not have the authority to conclude a new treaty with Armenia, while the other two Transcaucasian republics did not agree to conclude an agreement with Turkey if it did not conclude one with Armenia. Although the Moscow Russian-Turkish treaty essentially canceled the content of the Alexandropol treaty, nevertheless, Turkish diplomats defended the view that the Alexandropol treaty remained in force until a new treaty was concluded with Armenia. The Union Soviet republics never recognized the Alexandropol Treaty. Meanwhile, the Turkish military command refused to clear the Alexandropol region, until Armenia fulfills the Treaty of Alexandropol and gives up all its weapons. The correspondence that began on this issue ended with the withdrawal of Turkish troops from the Alexandropol region in mid-May. On May 13 and 18, the Commissariat of Foreign Affairs protested against the explosion of the Alexandropol powder magazines carried out during the evacuation by Turkish troops, but Ali Fuad Pasha, in the notes of May 15 and 19, referred to the Armenian counter-revolutionaries for explanation.

The general political line of close friendship between Russia and Turkey could be combined with disagreements on certain special issues.

In the middle of May, correspondence begins with Turkey about the forced evictions of the Kars Molokans, the confiscations made from them and other oppressions against them; On May 18, the People's Commissariat for Foreign Affairs made a sharp protest to Ali Fuad Pasha about this. On May 19, Ali Fuad Pasha explains that the Russian population does not experience other difficulties than those usually associated with any military occupation. On May 21, the People's Commissariat of Foreign Affairs cites a number of factual data and demands the adoption of energetic measures to stop such a policy of the Turkish military authorities; On May 25, Ali Fuad Pasha reports that, according to his government, anti-government agitation is being carried out by the Russian population (Molokans); June 6 Narkominodel rejects the possibility of such agitation, and in view of the continued oppression of the Kars Molokans, on June 21 he threatens with reprisals against Turkish subjects in Russia; In a note on June 27, Ali Fuad Pasha claims that there is allegedly information about the conspiracies of the Molokan communists and about the anti-government activities of representatives of the Caucasian military command in Turkey, and also that the alleged actions have been stopped and the issue can be considered settled. On June 29, the People's Commissariat for Foreign Affairs inquires what specific measures the Turkish government will take to resolve this issue, and on July 1 informs that Dubrovsky, who occupied the main place in Turkish complaints against our agents, b. The representative of the Caucasian Front at the headquarters of Kazim Karabekir Pasha, recalled from the Kars region, rejects the correctness of the accusations raised against him of hostile agitation. In the notes of July 3 and 4, Ali Fuad Pasha reports that, firstly, Dubrovsky's explanations were handed over to the Turkish government and, secondly, that the Russian population of the Kars region itself wishes to emigrate to Russia. On July 12, the new Turkish commissar Yusuf Kemal informs our representative, comrade Natsarenus, that the evictions of the Molokans have been stopped.

May 18 NKID asks to transfer the development of the Chorokhsky and Kvartsyaisky copper mines to the Russian government; On the note of the 19th, Ali Fuad Pasha announced that he had referred the matter to the Turkish government for permission. On June 1, the People's Commissariat of Foreign Affairs asks to expedite the resolution of this issue; On July 16, a note from Yusuf Kemal announces the refusal of the Turkish government, and only after further insistence from Comrade Natsarenus, on September 4, as a sign of their friendship, the Turkish government proposes to form a mixed commission to work out conditions for the use of mines in the interests of the Russian people. October 20 Yusuf Kemal, confirming this note, proposes to send experts on this issue. The meeting of experts is to be held in Batum in December.

In notes dated May 21 and 23, Ali Fuad Pasha announces the delay in the evacuation of prisoners of war; On May 24 and 25, and then on June 3, the People's Commissariat of Foreign Affairs reports that the reasons are technical difficulties and notifies Comrade Kotov, authorized by the People's Commissariat of Foreign Affairs, to Tuapse. June 6 Ali Fuad Pasha announces that the repatriation is proceeding successfully.

On May 26, the People's Commissariat of Foreign Affairs transmits a proposal from the Ukrainian SSR to negotiate the conclusion of a Turkish-Ukrainian treaty in Kharkov; On July 22, the Turkish government invites the Ukrainian delegates to come to Angora.

Ali Fuad Pasha inquires by note on May 27 about the reasons for the concentration of military transports in the regions of Erivan and Nakhichevan; On June 1, the People's Commissariat of Foreign Affairs responds that such a thing has not been produced and is not being produced.

On June 3, Ali Fuad Pasha points out that, contrary to the 15th clause of the treaty, no agreement has been concluded with the Caucasian republics. The NKID, by a note of June 6, lays responsibility on the Turkish delegates who left for Angora before the conclusion of this agreement. To this, on June 9, Ali Fuad Pasha replied that, according to his information, the reason for the failure to conclude an agreement was the desire of the Caucasian republics to conclude a general agreement with Turkey on behalf of the Caucasian Federation, which does not exist. On June 13, the People's Commissariat of Foreign Affairs replies that this assumption is erroneous. On June 14, Ali Fuad Pasha announced that, in his opinion, under these conditions, the conclusion of a friendly treaty with the Caucasian republics was possible. On July 2, Yusuf Kemal sends an invitation to the three republics to a conference in Angora and only on August 26 agrees to call a conference in Kars.

On September 25, Ali Fuad writes that his government welcomes the Ukrainian SSR's proposal to send Commander-in-Chief Comrade Frunze to negotiate a Turkish-Ukrainian treaty.

In September, after the Turkish victories over the Greeks and the resulting change in attitude towards Turkey on the part of France and Italy, the movement towards peace with the Entente noticeably intensifies in Turkish government circles. On September 16, a French trade delegation arrives in Angora, and on September 20, the French commissioner Franklin-Buyoi arrives, negotiations with whom are entrusted to Mustafa Kemal's personal friend, Fedkhi Bey.

The text of the Franco-Turkish treaty was published in the newspaper Tai on 1 November. In a note of November 18, Ali Fuad Pasha refers to this publication and, on behalf of his government, certifies that the treaty does not contain anything that would in any way shake the Moscow treaty in its letter and spirit, and that in general no treaty of Turkey has ever will be contrary to the policy of friendship with the Russian people.

As early as May 4, Ali Fuad Pasha handed over to the NKID a note indicating the cruelty of the Greeks in Asia Minor, with photographs attached; On the 6th, he was informed by the People's Commissariat of Foreign Affairs that measures would be taken to publish these data. On September 28, Yusuf Kemal in Angora handed Comrade Natsarenus an official message with a long list of Greek atrocities. On October 22, the People's Commissariat of Models sent out a circular to all governments, drawing their attention to the transformation of the flowering region into a desert by the Greeks, and invited them to take steps before the Greek government to stop the unacceptable actions of the Greek troops in Turkey.

Back in June (notes 13 and 15), the People's Commissariat of Foreign Affairs pointed out to Ali Fuad Pasha the heavy impression made on the Soviet Republic and on the working people of all countries by the persecution of communists in Turkey, the condescending attitude of the Turkish authorities towards the murder of the communist Mustafa Subhi, the arrest of a delegate to the Third Congress of the Comintern, Dr. Fuad Sabit, etc., and on the unfavorable international effect of such actions, depriving the Turkish government in its struggle of the sympathies of the working people of all countries. In a note on 22 June, Ali Fuad Pasha attributed Fuad Sabit's arrest to official misconduct; the officials guilty of condoning the murder of Mustafa Subhi were put on trial. On September 29, by decree of the Turkish Grand National Assembly, all imprisoned communists are released.

On October 17, the People's Commissariat for Foreign Affairs points to the unacceptable behavior of the Turkish authorities of the Black Sea coast towards Russian ships and Russian citizens. Ali Fuad Pasha replies that the necessary measures will be taken, but, on the other hand, he must pay attention to the even more unacceptable behavior of the Russian authorities in Tuapse, Novorossiysk, Adler, etc. to investigate the actions of local authorities.

On November 3, Turkey appoints Ferid Bey as ambassadors to Paris, Mahmud Bey to Rome, Fakhredi Pasha to Kabul, Khoja Emin Effendi to Bukhara, and Rustem Bey to America. Mustafa Kemal agreed to invite the most prominent Enverists to the cabinet of ministers, demanding some concessions from Enver. November 9 Enverist arrests intensify; Enver's brother Nuri Pasha is expelled from Anatolia. On November 10, Jalaladdin Arif Bey is appointed to Rome instead of Mahmud.

November 10 The People's Commissariat for Foreign Affairs proposes convening a conference in Moscow to establish consular, postal-telegraph and commercial conventions between Turkey and the RSFSR; On November 14, Ali Fuad Pasha proposes to convene her in Angora, referring this issue to his government for resolution.

On November 13 and 14, the People's Commissariat for Foreign Affairs vigorously protests against the forced military service of the Molokans opting for the RSFSR. Ali Fuad Pasha, in a note of November 19, lays the blame on the Soviet authorities of the Caucasus and refers to the decisions of the Kars Conference. November 21 The People's Commissariat of Foreign Affairs rejects the bringing of Russian citizens under the Treaty of Kars and expresses regret over the possibility of a confluence of circumstances in which reprisals would be necessary. The issue still remains unresolved.

In view of Comrade Natsarenus' severe morbid condition, Comrade Aralov has been appointed our new plenipotentiary representative in Turkey. It is entrusted with the task of further strengthening the friendship between the Russian and Turkish peoples, which has already entered the consciousness of the masses of the people, and who are threatened by imperialist groups. The right of the Eastern peoples to independence, proclaimed in Article IV of the Moscow Treaty, is defended by the Turkish people in their struggle against the Greeks, the success of which was facilitated by friendship with Soviet Russia.