The issue of Turkish accession to the Second World War in British foreign policy (December 1943–January 1944)

During the Cairo negotiations (December 4–7, 1942), the British, supported by the Americans, tried to persuade the Turks to make the air bases on their territory available to the Allies on February 14, 1944. This date was correlated with British preparations for attacking Rhodes as part of Operation Hercules. Throughout the rest of December and mid-January 1944, the British tried to convince the Ankara government to accept the terms of cooperation. The staff consultations which proceeded in early January highlighted the differences in the perception of the war situation by both sides, which eventually led to the breakdown of negotiations and the suspension of British military aid to Turkey. Nevertheless, the British government did not decide to break the treaty of mutual aid with the Turkey and this decision was influenced by political and military factors that was not directly related to the plans of capturing the Dodecanese.

In his article Bogdan Grzelonski, Polish ambassador to Canada between 1997 and 2000, discusses a book edited by author and historian Frank Costigliola Kennan diaries. He states that the masterfully selected and annotated diaries make for a fascinating reading about Kennan’s professional and personal life. He specifically brings to attention these parts, that are concerned with the Soviet Union, Europe and Poland. B. Grzeloński underline that Kennan raised in his diary issues which still ring clearly today.