Aftcr the Lausanne Peace Treaty of 24 July 1923, Turkeyfollowed a policy aiming consciously at peace and co-operationwith ali nations. The whole purpose of the country presupposed along period of tranquillity, without which its far-reaching plans fordevelopment and reform would have been meaningless. It wasnatural that at this period Republican Turkey and Soviet Russiashould be attractcd towards each other. Each was striving forfreedom from foreign shackles, and each was faced withformidable programmes of internal transformation. It was one ofthe majör tenets of Soviet foreign policy at the time to cultivateTurkey's good will and understanding, in order to show theexploited nations of Asia that Moscow was their only and truefriend. Furthcrmore, Turkish friendship carricd with it promise ofan advantageous accommodation in the Straits, in case of war withthe Wcst a consideration which no Russian governmcnt coulddisregard.