Turkish Nationalist resistance to the Treaty of Sèvres met with a sympathetic response on the part of Bolshevist Russia, and on March 16, 1921, the Government of the Grand National Assembly and the Government of the Russian Socialist Federated Soviet Republic signed at Moscow a treaty to confirm “the solidarity which unites them in the struggle against imperialism.” By the terms of this treaty Russia refused to recognize the validity of the Treaty of Sèvres or of any other “international acts which are imposed by force.” Russia ceded to Turkey the territories of Kars and Ardahan, in the Caucasus region, as a manifestation of full accord with the principles of the National Pact. The Soviet Republic, “recognizing that the régime of the capitulations is incompatible with the national development of Turkey, as well as with the full exercise of its sovereign rights, considers null and void the exercise in Turkey of all functions and all rights under the capitulatory régime.” In particular, Russia freed Turkey “from any financial or other obligations based on international treaties concluded between Turkey and the Government of the Tsar.” As regards the construction of railways in Anatolia, the Soviet Government completely reversed the former policy of Imperial Russia, which was to oppose all such railways as a strategic menace.[3] It was now provided that, “with the object of facilitating intercourse between their respective countries, both Governments agree to take in concert with each other all measures to develop and maintain within the shortest possible time, railway, telegraphic, and other means of communication,” as well as measures “to secure the free and unhampered traffic of passengers and commodities between the two countries.” Finally, both countries agreed to stand together in resisting all foreign interference in their domestic affairs: “Recognizing that the nationalist movements in the East,” reads the treaty, “are similar to and in harmony with the struggle of the Russian proletariat to establish a new social order, the two contracting parties assert solemnly the rights of these peoples to freedom, independence, and free choice of the forms of government under which they shall live.”[4]