A letter sent in 1955 from the Embassy of the Republic of Türkiye in Warsaw to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is a historically significant document that helps illuminate Türkiye’s diplomatic stance toward communist countries during the Cold War.

Content of the Document

Dated July 2, 1955, the document reports a diplomatically sensitive situation to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from the Turkish Embassy in Warsaw. The main subject concerns the appropriate conduct Turkish diplomats should maintain when encountering representatives of communist countries, such as the People’s Republic of China (PRC), with whom Türkiye had no formal diplomatic relations at the time.

The document notes that ambassadors of such countries typically avoided contact with Turkish diplomats, but recently, under the influence of the Soviet Union’s “peaceful offensive” policy, some softening in this attitude had been observed. Notably, the newly appointed PRC Ambassador to Warsaw had sent letters to Western embassies expressing an interest in establishing contact with Türkiye. In response, the Turkish Embassy consulted with Western diplomats and collectively decided that it would be more appropriate not to respond to the PRC’s initiative.

Implied Critique of Diplomatic Inconsistency

The final section of the document provides subtle but significant clues about the inconsistencies in Türkiye’s relations with communist states. It states:

“We have commercial relations with East Germany, a country with which we have no political relations. The stance of communist Albania toward us is no different from that of any satellite state (under Soviet influence) with which we do have relations.”

This statement draws attention to the contradiction whereby Türkiye could maintain commercial ties with a relatively minor communist state like East Germany while keeping its doors entirely closed to a major power like China. The document concludes by stating, “We request clarification regarding our course of action,” urging Ankara to define a clearer diplomatic policy.

The Indirect Influence of the United States: “Consensus with Western Envoys”

The document mentions that “an exchange of views was held with Western envoys,” which can be interpreted as a reference to alignment with the foreign policy trajectory set by the United States. The decision not to respond to the PRC’s outreach aligns directly with the broader policy of the Western bloc—particularly the U.S.—to diplomatically isolate Beijing.

During the Korean War (1950–1953), Türkiye was part of the United Nations forces led by the U.S. that fought against the Chinese People’s Volunteer Army. U.S. foreign policy throughout the 1950s aimed to contain the spread of communism in Asia. This containment strategy discouraged front-line allies like Türkiye from establishing diplomatic ties with the PRC.

Ambassadors of the Era: Abdülahad Akşin and Wang Bingnan

• Abdülahad Akşin served as the Ambassador of the Republic of Türkiye in Warsaw from 1952 to 1957. Given the date and signature of the document, it is likely that he authored the letter. He is also father of Prof. Sina Aksin who is famous historian in Turkiye.
• Wang Bingnan (王炳南) was appointed as the PRC Ambassador to Warsaw in 1955. The document’s reference to “the ambassador appointed a few months ago” confirms that the individual in question was Wang and not his predecessor, Zeng Yongquan (曾涌泉).

Dated July 2, 1955, this document serves as a telling example of Türkiye’s cautious and aligned foreign policy during the Cold War. It clearly shows that Turkish diplomacy, rather than acting independently, often followed the lead of the Western bloc. Moreover, the document subtly critiques Türkiye’s inconsistent stance: while maintaining varied levels of relations with different communist states, it remained completely closed to China, a rising global power. This correspondence carries important historical lessons, highlighting the need for Türkiye to adopt a more active and independent diplomatic approach in a multipolar world.

Sources:

1. https://diad.mfa.gov.tr/diad/tarihce/1983.pdf
2. https://www.mfa.gov.cn/eng/zy/wjrw/lrfbzjbzzl_665553/202405/t20240531_11367672.html
3. Republic of Türkiye Embassy in Warsaw, “Letter to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Diplomatic Relations,” July 2, 1955, G0002427-91-1, Presidential State Archives of Türkiye.

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