Office of the Historian

279. Telegram From the Embassy in Turkey to the Department of State0

Ankara, October 7, 1958, 7 p.m.

1142. Re Paris Polto 117, sent Department 885.1 Secretary General Foreign Office Esenbel called me 1500 October 7 to give me “last word” (which I believe may be literally true) on Turk position re proposed conference on Cyprus. He stated instructions being given Sarper under following four points which he hoped would be communicated to Department and US representatives soonest.

1.
Turkey does not accept Spaak paper which evidently prepared in order to exert pressure on Turkey and satisfy Greece. It contains divergencies from truth and exaggerates gravity of situation. It tries downgrade real functions of representatives counseling Governor Cyprus. Turkey believes no proces verbale is necessary to “answer questions in Parliaments”. GOT is not impressed by these pressure tactics.
2.
If progress is to be made this is not time discuss the final status of island. On basis of UK plan better climate must be created, since if final solution were discussed at this time there would be no common ground. Greece and Turkey yet too far apart. Later if climate were improved, chances of success another conference (even in near future) would be greater.
3.
Participation of France and Italy as proposed by Greece plus Spaak and US observers is not accepted by Turkey. France and Italy have nothing do with Cyprus. GOT cannot accept presence of Spaak at conference even as observer since he would do more harm than good. He would have to take sides for one or other party or be accused doing so as Foot is accused by both parties to be doing at this time. GOT feels Spaak’s participation conference would not only do harm to his personal position but also to NATO.
4.
GOT will accept amendments if relevant to subject and having bearing on UK plan.

Esenbel added GOT feels NATO being used as pressure tool by Greece. Turkey does not wish NATO to become another UN (Embtel 1130).2 He said: “we are now making demarche to US as we would at UN.” In his usual calm mood, he concluded GOT would not submit to Greek “blackmail” of being put between nutcracker jaws of UN and NATO.

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Comment: By inference Esenbel silence re USA in context second sentence paragraph 3 above would seem indicate GOT would find USA as unacceptable as observer at conference as France and Italy, though this point not entirely clear.

Hall
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 747C.00/10–758. Secret; Niact. Repeated to Paris for USRO, Athens, London, Nicosia, Istanbul, Izmir, and Iskenderun.↩
  2. Polto 117 from Paris to Ankara, October 6, summarized the October 6 NAC meeting. (Ibid., 747C.00/10–658) See Document 277.↩
  3. Document 278.↩