245. Telegram From the Embassy in Greece to the Department of State1
3596. Paris for USRO. Rome for McSweeney. Reference: Deptel 3836.2 During meeting at my home this morning Makarios proposed that U.S. assume UN-sponsored trusteeship over Cyprus during interim period prior to self-determination. I immediately pointed out that this would not be feasible for several reasons. We would be shouldering responsibilities which those directly concerned should carry. Moreover, U.S. is already accused of speaking against colonialism because U.S. wishes to supplant existing imperialist overlords. He said if people of Cyprus requested US trusteeship, no one could accuse U.S. of imperialism. On contrary, this would be first time any great power had assumed governmental responsibilities at request of population and would consequently be opposite of imperialism. I asked if he had any evidence that Turkish as well as Greek Cypriots would like it. He said he thought they would. He added that our recently assumed responsibilities in Middle East made it imperative for us to take bold steps to help solve Cyprus problem.
I asked how British Government could justify recalling all its officials from Cyprus and seeing them replaced by Americans. He acknowledged the difficulties but pointed out that British had shifted its responsibilities to U.S. elsewhere, including the shift in Greece itself in 1947. Since U.S. had to support free-world, he thought we should exercise our responsibilities directly.
Comment: It is difficult to believe that Makarios advanced this proposal with serious belief it might be accepted. I am inclined to regard it as tactic designed to show he has come forth with something, however far-fetched, and that ball is now in our or someone else’s court.
Other subjects discussed will be reported in separate telegrams.3
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 747C.00/4–2657. Secret. Repeated to London, Rome, and Paris Topol.↩
- See footnote 2, infra.↩
- See infra. In telegram 3597 from Athens, April 26, Allen noted that his meeting with Makarios had been arranged by Averoff, who suggested that the conversation take place at his house. Allen added that rather than give the meeting a “conspiratorial aspect”, he suggested that the meeting take place at his home. The Ambassador reported that he and the Archbishop had agreed to try to keep the meeting from becoming public. If it did become known, Allen concluded, he was prepared to say that “several sources” had suggested that the meeting might be a useful one and that he had agreed in order to obtain a better understanding of the Cyprus problem. (Department of State, Central Files, 747C.00/4–2657)↩