740.5/9–2951: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the United States Deputy Representative on the North Atlantic Council (Spofford), at London1
Todep 199. 1. In view importance Dept attaches to Slim-Bradley- French visit to Turkey to carry on informal and preliminary military discussions with Turks re their participation in NATO bodies and proposed MEC, Dept concerned over apparent attitude Dutch and certain other NATO members as reported by Turk FonOff in Ankara tel 305 Sept 28 to Dept (rptd London 5, Paris 8, Cairo 11)2.
You will recall Secretary informed NAC members at Ottawa that US considering sending high milit officer to Turkey to discuss milit arrangements on informal basis and that UK and France might do likewise. On assumption such action wld not endanger early action by NATO countries to complete formalities for Turk Greek accession NATO, Dept has been urging Turk Govt agree to receive Slim- Bradley-French visit.
Suggest you discuss matter with Brit Dep in view London report to Brit Amb Ankara that Dutch had modified attitude. You may also wish sound out Dutch Dep, reassuring him, if necessary, of preliminary nature proposed mil discussions. Dept wld welcome your early comments.
2. Dept wld be interested in info re likelihood other NAT countries will be prepared to sign on Oct 3 Protocol on Turk Greek accession [Page 585] NATO or when they may be expected to take this action. Do you feel it wld be helpful for Dept to request our Ambs in NAT countries urge early action on respective govts.3
- Message drafted by Moore of GTI, cleared by NE and RA, and repeated to The Hague, Paris, Cairo, and Ankara.↩
- Supra. ↩
- Spofford responded to Todep 199 in telegram Depto 390 from London on October 1 stating “Believe no possibility signing Greek-Turk protocol October 3 but will keep trying for signature later this week.” The French were the “most serious obstacle,” Spofford added, stating that the Embassy in France “received impression Fr unlikely be willing sign soon.” (740.5/10–151)↩