Memorandum from Secretary of State James Byrnes to President Harry S. Truman, Current Foreign Developments

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TOP SECRET DECLASSIFIED (E) Peturn to Sesset 11652, Sec. 3(E) and 5(D) 10. or 1972 E.O. of State letter, Aug. 6.26.25 Seen olstate Dept. MARS Date By July 4, 1945 MEMORANDUM FOR THE PRESIDENT Subject: Current Foreign Developments Turkey Deeply Concerned by Russia: Disappointed at U.S. View. Turkish Prime Minister Saracoglu ex- pressed disappointment at the American attitude on current Russo-Turkish developments and great concern over the situation in general, in a conversation with Ambassador Wilson. Saracoglu could not understand our hope for "further conversations regarding the two respec- tive points of view". Ambassador Wilson replied that the American view was that the subject should not be overemphasized on the eve of the Big Three talks. De- claring "the Soviets have gone mad", Saracoglu said that even though it be hopeless Turkey would fight to thwart any attempt by Russia against its independence. Turkey was willing to discuss a new treaty with Russia and the Straits Convention, but would not accept Soviet domination. Saracoglu felt that the Big Three meeting might determine the future of the Near and Middle East for a long time to come. If Russia proves able later to press territorial questions with Turkey, other countries in the region will rush to make the best terms they can with Moscow and the whole area will be dominated by the Soviets. Saracoglu also told Wilson that Molotov had been TRUNKY careful ARCHIVES "NATIONAL RECORDS SERVICE* AND