761.67/363: Telegram
The Ambassador in Turkey (Steinhardt) to the Secretary of State
[Received 7:58 p.m.]
194. The Soviet Ambassador20 told me yesterday in the strictest confidence that he had called on Saraçoğlu21 2 days ago and had asked him to tell him frankly what measures the Soviet Government could take to improve its relations with the Turkish Government and which would remove the obvious mistrust which existed. He said Saraçoğlu [Page 817] had replied that he would be very glad to consider any proposals the Soviet Government might care to make which would tend to improve the relations between the two countries. The Ambassador then asked me what sort of proposal I thought might appeal to the Turkish Government. I replied that without any knowledge on the subject I assumed the Turkish Government was primarily concerned with the security of its present frontiers not only during the continuance of the war but thereafter and suggested that he consider the matter along these lines.
As the Ambassador has already given evidence that it is his desire to discuss with me his efforts to improve Turkish-Soviet relations I should appreciate an expression of the Department’s views on this subject.
Repeated to Kuibyshev.