Stop Eleven: The Turkish Straits
Throughout the 1930s, the previously friendly relationship between Turkey and the Soviet Union began to deteriorate as control over the strait between the Black Sea and the Mediterranean Sea became a source of controversy. A 1936 treaty signed by the Soviet Union and Turkey gave control over the strait to Turkey, however, Soviet designs on the straits were no secret. At the end of World War Two, the Soviet Union began to pressure Turkey in an attempt to gain access to the Mediterranean. Stalin hoped that Turkey would cave under pressure, granting the Soviet Union a sea route from the U.S.S.R. to the Mediterranean and the Middle East. However, Turkey did not bow to Soviet demands. When Turkey refused to cede the territory to the U.S.S.R., the Soviet Union began to militarize the border with Turkey. In response, Turkey sought aid from Great Britain to help it modernize and expand its own military to defend against what Turkey believed was an inevitable Soviet invasion.
Primary Source: Acheson, Dean. “Telegram to James Byrnes, Acting Secretary of State” 15 Aug 1946. Foreign Relations of the United States, 1946, vol 7. p 840-842.
“In our opinion the primary objective of the Soviet Union is to obtain control over Turkey. We believe that if the Soviet Union succeeds in introducing into Turkey armed forces with the ostensible purpose of enforcing the joint control of the Straits, the Soviet Union will use these forces in order to obtain control over Turkey…. In our opinion, therefore, the time has come when we must decide that we shall resist will all means at out disposal any Soviet aggression and in particular, because the case of Turkey would be so clear, any Soviet aggression against Turkey. In carrying this policy our words and acts will only carry conviction to the Soviet Union if they are formulated against the background of an inner conviction and determination on our part that we cannot permit Turkey to become the object of Soviet aggression.”
Primary Source: “How Communism Works,” Catholic Library Service, Library of Congress (1938).
Primary Source: Acheson, Dean. “Telegram to James Byrnes, Acting Secretary of State” 15 Aug 1946. Foreign Relations of the United States, 1946, vol 7. p 840-842.
“In our opinion the primary objective of the Soviet Union is to obtain control over Turkey. We believe that if the Soviet Union succeeds in introducing into Turkey armed forces with the ostensible purpose of enforcing the joint control of the Straits, the Soviet Union will use these forces in order to obtain control over Turkey…. In our opinion, therefore, the time has come when we must decide that we shall resist will all means at out disposal any Soviet aggression and in particular, because the case of Turkey would be so clear, any Soviet aggression against Turkey. In carrying this policy our words and acts will only carry conviction to the Soviet Union if they are formulated against the background of an inner conviction and determination on our part that we cannot permit Turkey to become the object of Soviet aggression.”
Primary Source: “How Communism Works,” Catholic Library Service, Library of Congress (1938).
Analysis Questions:
1. How did Acheson interpret Soviet actions with respect to the Turkish straits?
1. How did Acheson interpret Soviet actions with respect to the Turkish straits?