740.5/7–751: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Embassy in Turkey 1
32. FYI only. While US support of NATO membership for Turks is without strings, conversations with UK past few weeks indicated latter tended link UK support NATO membership Turkey with participation Turkey ME defense. US made clear its view NATO membership Turkey Greece is prerequisite upon which solution various area problems wld depend. “Package deal” Morrison’s msg (Deptel 12 July 5)2 was not discussed with US before delivery Turks; however its ultimate objective, i.e. securing Turk participation ME defense, as well as NATO, is in line trend conversations here.
We would prefer not to comment on “package deal” since in our mind this diplomatic gambit poorly calculated from point of view of Turk psychology. In our view, Turks have figured out way meet gambit and will doubtless adhere position mentioned para 5(b) urtel 16 July 7.3 For our part, we will urge UK not to press package deal aspects in light favorable Turk disposition play larger role ME as indicated by Turk FonMin to US and UK Ambs. End FYI.
You are authorized tell Turk FonMin UK has informed US of Brit approach. US is glad Brits have offered to support Turk admission to NATO, and we welcome FonMin comment re Turk interest in security and defense ME and Turk willingness participate actively therein.4 This is in line our wishes since we have long desired Turk prestige, influence and mil strength be brought to bear in working out a solution of complex and manifold problems of area defense. We continue work actively for Turk inclusion NATO and hope Brit support will greatly assist favorable NATO decision.
- Repeated to London for Spofford. Drafted by Dorsz (GTI) and Director of Near Eastern Affairs G. Lewis Jones; cleared by EUR and Matthews (G).↩
- Telegram 12 to Ankara, not printed, transmitted Morrison’s memorandum of July 3. See the memorandum of conversation by Bonbright, p. 554.↩
- Telegram 16 from Ankara stated that Foreign Minister Köprülü “viewed Morrison’s second point (that Turkey shld join in establishing ME command) not as condition precedent to extension of such support [British support for Turkey’s adherence to NATO] but rather as justification for earlier evinced British hesitancy in matter and as suggestion, which he also welcomed, that the Four Powers consult together with view to reaching mutually agreeable program for ME defense.” (740.5/7–751)↩
- See footnote 3, above.↩