Foreign Relations of the United States, 1969–1976, Volume XXIX, Eastern Europe; Eastern Mediterranean, 1969–1972

419. Memorandum From Secretary of State Rogers to President Nixon¹

Washington, February 11, 1969.

SUBJECT

• Steps to Emphasize U.S. Interest in, and Friendship for, Turkey

At your request, we have reviewed a variety of suggestions and possibilities for emphasizing U.S. interest in, and friendship for, Turkey. While there are certain specific actions which I cite below, we will rely principally on patient and traditional diplomatic means in seeking to improve our relations with Turkey, including continued considerate and responsive attitudes toward Turkish interests, intensified efforts to solicit the Turksʼ views, and to engage their energies in as many common endeavors as possible.

More specifically, however, I submit the following thoughts:

1. The Turkish Ambassador has requested an agreement in principle to a visit by Prime Minister Suleyman Demirel to the United States in late November or early December of this year. You will soon be receiving recommendations for visits of various Chiefs of States; I will include a recommendation that you approve such a visit at a time mutually convenient to both governments. An early indication to the Turks of agreement in principle to such a visit is desirable.

2. The uncertainty concerning the U.S. Ambassadorship in Ankara, resulting from the withdrawal of Mr. Komerʼs nomination to the Senate,² should be resolved as soon as possible. I will be submitting recommendations to you at an early date.

3. We are working with the Defense Department to get from the Turks a decision to take over Cigli Air Base so that Defense can release as quickly as possible $2.8 million to remove U.S. military headquarters facilities from the center of Ankara to the outskirts. The latter move is desired by both the Turks and ourselves and is designed primarily to reduce the visibility of the large U.S. presence in the capital.

4. The Turks were greatly moved by the flight of Apollo 8, and I am planning to include Turkey if there is another astronaut goodwill trip abroad.

5. The Turks are quite sensitive to Armenian efforts to keep alive the memory of the Armenian massacres in Turkey after the First World War. They have asked us to do what we can to convince the Congress not to pass the pending resolution to make April 24 “Armenian Martyrs Day.”³ We will do our best in this regard.

6. The levels of military and economic assistance have a very direct and strong impact on our relations with Turkey. This will be a most important aspect of our current review of the over-all assistance programs.

7. I am seeing the Turkish Ambassador at his request this Thursday⁴ and will at that time personally stress our friendship and interest.

WPR

1. Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1967–69, POL TUR–US. Confidential. Drafted by Cash and cleared by Rockwell and Sisco.
2. Komer, a non-career official, was serving on a recess appointment made by President Johnson on October 28, 1968; he presented his credentials on January 3, 1969.
3. The resolution was not passed.
4. February 13; a memorandum of their conversation is in the National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 632, Country Files—Middle East, Turkey, Vol. I through May 70.