Thread by @akoz33

So here is the last and the most important document of the series (the other two were recorded conversations between Molotov and Ribbentrop and Molotov and the German ambassador to the USSR Schulenburg). Note this is all from 1940. This is not about the original

Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact. The war is now going on. Germany suggests that the Soviet Union joins the Tripartite Pact of Germany, Italy and Japan & converts it to a Quadripartiate one. In addition to the open pact several secret protocols are proposed. In the Molotov Memorandum,

the Soviet Union agrees, provided several conditions are fulfilled. The most far reaching one concerns Turkey and the rejection of this condition (which Molotov demanded to be forcibly imposed on the Turks) prevented the agreement and played an important role in a Hitler’s

decision to invade the USSR.

Molotov Memorandum of November 25, 1940

The USSR agrees to accept in principle the draft pact of the four powers on their political cooperation and economic mutual assistance, set forth by Mr. Ribbentrop in his conversation with V.M. Molotov

in Berlin on November 13, 1940 and consisting of 4 points, under the following conditions:

1. German troops should be withdrawn from Finland, which lies in the sphere of influence of the USSR, according to the Soviet-German agreement of 1939, and the USSR in return will

ensure peaceful relations with Finland, as well as protecting the economic interests of Germany in Finland (export of timber, nickel);
2. Security of the USSR in the Straits is ensured in the coming months by concluding a pact of mutual assistance between the USSR and Bulgaria

which is geographically located in the sphere of security of the Black Sea borders of the USSR, and by allowing the USSR to set up a military and naval base in the Bosphorus and Dardanelles on a long-term rental basis.

3. The area south of Batumi and Baku in the general direction to the Persian Gulf will be recognized as the center of gravity of the aspirations of the USSR

4. Japan renounces its concession rights for coal and oil in Northern Sakhalin in return for fair compensation.

In accordance with the above, the draft protocol to the Quadripatriate Treaty, submitted by Mr. Ribbentrop on the delimitation of spheres of influence, in the spirit of determining the center of gravity of the USSR's aspirations in the south of Batum and Baku in the general

direction to the Persian Gulf, should be amended.

In the same way, the draft protocol set forth by Mr. Ribbentrop - the Agreement between Germany, Italy and the USSR and Turkey and Turkey in the spirit of ensuring the military and naval base of the USSR at the Bosphorus and

the Dardanelles on a long-term lease basis with the guarantee of the three powers of independence and the territory of Turkey, should be amended in case Turkey agrees to join the four powers.

This protocol should stipulate that if Turkey refuses to join the four powers,

Germany, Italy and the USSR agree to work out and implement the necessary military and diplomatic measures, about which a special agreement should be concluded.

In the same manner, the following need to be accepted:

the third secret protocol between the USSR and Germany on Finland;
the fourth secret protocol between the USSR and Japan on Japan's renunciation of coal and oil concessions in Northern Sakhalin;

the fifth secret protocol between the USSR, Germany and Italy with the recognition that Bulgaria, in view of its geographical location, is in the security sphere of the USSR's Black Sea borders, and therefore it is considered politically necessary to conclude a mutual assistance

pact between the USSR and Bulgaria, which in no way should not affect either the internal regime of Bulgaria, nor its sovereignty and independence.

This was transferred to Shulenburg by me on November 25, 1940.
signed V. Molotov.