SOVIET NOTE TO TURKEY

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27098, 22 July 1953, Page 9

SOVIET NOTE TO TURKEY

Western Warships

In Black Sea

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 8 p.m.) LONDON, July 21. The Soviet Government yesterday asked the Turkish Government for more precise information concerning the frequent visits of foreign warships to Turkish Black Sea ports.

The Note said that visits of American and British warships to Istanbul could be regarded as some sort of military demonstration.

The Soviet Deputy Foreign Minister, Mr Lva Zorin, handed the Note to the Turkish Ambassador in Moscow.

“The Foreign Ministry of the Turkish Republic has informed the Soviet Ambassador in Ankara that in the period from July 22 to July 27, 10 warships will concentrate in the port of Istanbul,” said the Note. “They include two cruisers, three destroyers, four trawlers and one transport.

“The Foreign Ministry of the Turkish Republic also informed the Soviet Ambassador that from July 27 to August 3 there would be concentrations of 22 British warships, including three cruisers, four destroyers, six minesweepers and four transports, in the port of Istanbul.

“In view of this information it is impossible to disregard the fact that of late, formations of foreign warships —large warships—have ever more frequently entered ports in the Black Sea Strait and the above visits to the Port of Istanbul of 10 American warships and 22 British warships can be assessed as a kind of military demonstration. “In view of the above circumstances the Soviet Government expects to receive additional information from the Turkish Government.” The new Soviet Note to Turkey follows the publication in Moscow on Monday of the declarations exchanged between the Soviet and Turkish Governments. The Soviet Foreign Minister (Mr Molotov) said on July 18 that Russia had dissolved all Soviet territorial claims on Turkey and expressed the Soviet belief that the Black Sea Strait issue could be resolved on grounds acceptable to both the Soviet Union and Turkey. The Turkish response said that control of the Black Sea Straits was subject to the provisions of the Montreaux Convention to which the Western Powers were signatories.